....One would think that returning the EC225s to service with the problem fixed would be the best way to regain confidence int he company......
While EC is likely getting lots of pressure from operators to get the EC225 MGB problem resolved quickly, the worst thing they could do is employ some band-aid fix to be expedient. If there were even a hint of a similar problem reoccurring, that would catastrophic for EC. The real danger for EC is customers losing confidence in the company at large, more than simply the EC225 product itself. The actual cost of the EC225 MGB repairs is something EC can afford, since it involves fewer than 150 total aircraft.
Hiring a savvy
PR rep to focus on this problem is a smart move. The other thing I would suggest to EC is that they make the entire process transparent and public by issuing regular press releases detailing their efforts and progress. Keeping things as quiet as possible will only arouse public suspicion. The public is very forgiving of those who admit to making honest mistakes, and then make a good faith effort to correct them. But the public has no tolerance for those that attempt to hide or cover up their mistakes.
A good example is the recent problem Boeing faces with the 787 batteries. While there were no injuries/fatalities related to the problem, the financial impact to Boeing may be much greater than that to EC from the EC225 MGB issue. However, Boeing seems to be doing a good job so far with
PR regarding the battery problems. I have seen a couple of detailed technical presentations they have voluntarily made public describing the situation. By doing so, they demonstrate they have nothing to hide. Hopefully, people will learn this lesson from history. Whether it was Nixon/Watergate, Ford/Pinto fires, Clinton/Lewinsky, Obama/Fast&Furious or Hillary/Benghazi, they only became scandals when it appeared there was an effort to cover things up.