737 Max - Europe S20
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Lanzarote/Butuan/Southern Yorkshire
Posts: 388
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
This is almost unprecedented, the time to return to service. I can only remember the comet being grounded longer but that was basically a full rebuild of the aircraft.. Complete Windows redesign from square to round, not "just" a software tweak. The Max problem really must be significant if it's going to take this long. I'm wondering if airlines will switch to other suppliers, but that would depend on them having capacity to make quick deliveries. Maybe Airbus could ramp up in US and China, or the Chinese could step in to fill the gap?
Join Date: May 2001
Location: England
Posts: 1,904
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As sad as it is to say, it is statistically speaking, quite likely another MAX will accident/incident will take place in the 1-2 years after it is back on line. There is a back log of 400 aircraft to clear. Once the fix has been approved and applied to each aircraft, airlines will be under pressure to get them delivered and on line ASAP . Things will be rushed and shortcuts will be taken ultimately resulting in other more well known factors to take over and contribute to an accident/incident.
One more accident or incident will be enough to put the final nail into the coffin even if it has nothing to do with MCAS. It will cause another media stir with negative publicity for Boeing and airlines alike. The name has been dirtied. Airlines need to start demanding Boeing rebrand the MAX now and go as far as possible to make it appear to the public it is a different aircraft. Right now that is not a priority but it ought to be as it's the next battle they will need to fight.
One more accident or incident will be enough to put the final nail into the coffin even if it has nothing to do with MCAS. It will cause another media stir with negative publicity for Boeing and airlines alike. The name has been dirtied. Airlines need to start demanding Boeing rebrand the MAX now and go as far as possible to make it appear to the public it is a different aircraft. Right now that is not a priority but it ought to be as it's the next battle they will need to fight.
Airlines need to start demanding Boeing rebrand the MAX now and go as far as possible to make it appear to the public it is a different aircraft.
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: UIP : 4° 10’ 0” W, 47° 58’ 0” N
Posts: 341
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Things will be rushed and shortcuts will be taken ultimately resulting in other more well known factors to take over and contribute to an accident/incident.
Airlines need to start demanding Boeing rebrand the MAX now and go as far as possible to make it appear to the public it is a different aircraft.
Airlines need to start demanding Boeing rebrand the MAX now and go as far as possible to make it appear to the public it is a different aircraft.
Firstly I don’t think Boeing, the FAA, EASA or any other aviation authority nor the airlines will rush anything and no shortcuts will be taken. There is too much at stake. Lives, reputation, careers, investment and money to mention just a few key points.
As for a rebranding? “A turd by any other name is still a turd”, comes to mind. Also the media,airline crews and the general public are not fools. I wouldn’t insult them by suggesting that they wouldn’t know it’s still the same aircraft.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Leeds, UK & Cork, Ireland
Posts: 1,080
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Fir those unaware, Boeing announced production of the 737 Max will be suspended in January. Large production lines take time to restart after suspension, so this is clearly not going to be just a few days.
Has the decision now been made for airlines operating within Europe for S20 as to what to do ? Should one now expect the likes of TUI and others to be trying to get hold of every 150-200 seat aircraft they can find ?
Has the decision now been made for airlines operating within Europe for S20 as to what to do ? Should one now expect the likes of TUI and others to be trying to get hold of every 150-200 seat aircraft they can find ?
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: UK
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Interesting situation that the regulators and Boeing find themselves in, on the one hand MCAS is needed because without it you could in extreme circumstance be unable to recover the aircraft from an UAS and yet if MCAS malfunctions with the current software it might put you in an UAS
Choice seem limited to "trusting the new software to be sensor failure redundant" or a massive redesign which would probably result in it being a new type rather variant or scrap it and build a new aircraft from scratch ..............
I'd go with the software personally and more detailed sim training.
There is no way to switch off MCAS without disabling the STAB and trying to manually trim the stab in a high speed high work load situation is far from easy
Choice seem limited to "trusting the new software to be sensor failure redundant" or a massive redesign which would probably result in it being a new type rather variant or scrap it and build a new aircraft from scratch ..............
I'd go with the software personally and more detailed sim training.
There is no way to switch off MCAS without disabling the STAB and trying to manually trim the stab in a high speed high work load situation is far from easy
Last edited by EIFFS; 18th Dec 2019 at 08:11.
Wondering how many Max Customers would have found the NG suitable for their needs (had Boeing not stopped building them)?
Surely better to be operating something that's a bit less capable than having to not operate or not expand at all?
Surely better to be operating something that's a bit less capable than having to not operate or not expand at all?
I, too, think it will be S21 before the Max is meaningfully back. There are going to be mods to install as well as software, and a lot of training which, as almost no simulators exist for it, will need to be on modified aircraft.
Last edited by WHBM; 18th Dec 2019 at 21:47.