Boeing’s CEO, David Calhoun, had a bit of a rollercoaster day. On one hand, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) finally gave the nod for inspection criteria for the grounded 737 Max 9 planes, hinting at a potential return to the skies. However, on the flip side, the FAA dropped a bombshell by initiating a fresh investigation into Boeing’s safety concerns. This approval came hot on the heels of a serious incident with an Alaska Airlines flight where a part of the plane broke off mid-flight on January 5.
The FAA didn’t mince words, emphasizing that the incident on January 5 must never recur and firmly stating a freeze on the production of the 737 Max until the ongoing safety investigation wraps up. Despite these challenges, the FAA did grant the green light for the 737 Max 9 planes to resume operations after undergoing a thorough inspection process. This was certainly a relief for airlines like Alaska and United, which were grappling with a slew of flight cancellations.
Boeing, in response, assured full cooperation with the FAA and pledged to enhance safety measures. The inspection protocols are quite comprehensive, involving a detailed review of various components, meticulous tightening of fasteners, and addressing issues stemming from the recent Alaska Airlines incident.
However, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker made it clear that Boeing isn’t off the hook yet, indicating a return to regular operations only when the identified quality control problems are satisfactorily addressed.
During discussions with lawmakers in Washington, Calhoun found himself in the hot seat, defending Boeing’s aircraft safety amid mounting concerns. He stressed the company’s commitment to transparency and openness, fielding questions from the media. Following these discussions, Senator Maria Cantwell spilled the beans about plans for a hearing to scrutinize Boeing’s safety track record, underlining the importance of fostering a safety-centric corporate culture.
A history of safety problems
Boeing’s struggles to ramp up production of the 737 Max pose a significant hurdle to its profitability goals. The production levels are still lagging behind the figures from before the 2019 crashes, and the recent safety challenges add another layer of complexity to Boeing’s path to recovery.
Industry experts aren’t optimistic about Boeing emerging unscathed from the ongoing investigations, pointing to persistent quality control and engineering issues. Boeing’s checkered safety history, including the two fatal crashes linked to the 737 Max design, is causing serious concern within the industry.
The latest hiccup involving the 737 Max 9 further complicates Boeing’s situation, impacting its aspirations for approval of other Max variants. The FAA’s prolonged scrutiny and the potential for production delays are certainly throwing a wrench into Boeing’s efforts to bounce back.
