MAX update

Both Boeing and the US Department of Transportation have set up teams to review their certification protocols, following two fatal 737 MAX 8 accidents in five months.

The MAX review is separate from FAA’s analysis of changes Boeing is making to the aircraft’s flight control software that are designed to get the aircraft flying. Regulators grounded the MAXs in mid-March in the aftermath of the 10 March crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302.

While Muilenburg emphasized that supporting the MAX’s return to service is Boeing’s top priority, the company has its eye on other programmes as well (See Boeing 777X review in this issue).   A midsize airplane (NMA) remains near the top of the company’s to-do list but could be superseded by an all-new 737 replacement.

Muilenburg also said Boeing remains committed to a 57-per-month production rate on the 737 line. The rate was slated to go from 52 to 57 this year, but the MAX grounding and related delivery freezes prompted Boeing to reduce the line’s output to 42 per-month in April.

“I don’t think our long-term perspective has changed,” he said. “If you look at the total skyline with about 4,400 aircraft in backlog, you look at the current market outlook, there is a need for 43,000 new airplanes over the next 20 years!”

The Boeing 737 - 8/9 remains in production although being scaled back with the last delivery scheduled for December.

www.boeing.com/commercial

Index/Home page
 

OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum