Anybody getting on a 737 Max?
 

Post latest issue re Alaskan Airlines can I ask if anyone is getting on these aircraft on here. I have just posted on the Alaskan Airlines thread about how I am actively avoiding the 787 / 737 Max and just wondered if it was just me ? As a business I know we are not using the Max for staff travel and to be honest none of our staff like the 787 so that seems to sort itself out. Also the carriers we use LH, SQ, EK limit our exposure, but I just wondered how wide spread or not is that feeling ?

Cheers
Mr Mac

I am thinking about avoiding shorthaul with airlines using the 737 Max-9 until the Alaska Air investigation is substantially complete or a root cause clearly identified. The grounding of these aircraft may spread from Alaska to other airlines and result in many people having their flights cancelled. If I book a flight, it is because I need or want to fly, and don't fancy having travel plans cancelled. If flights are cancelled, I prefer it happen to other people rather than me.
Aeromexico, Air Tanzania, Alaska, Copa, Corendon Dutch, Flydubai, Icelandair, Lion Air, SCAT, Turkish, United - sorry but no short-haul bookings from me for now.

Won’t use it. Fortunately I use mostly EI, LH and LX so that helps.

I believe one has to rely on the regulators. Else why have them?

If there really is an issue they should take action.

US FAA has grounded 171 737 Max 9s for inspection. CAAs all round the world will now likely feel duty bound to do the same thing. Cue flight cancellations
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-67903655

I have said in here before that I would not use the Max. Not because of safety issues as the original problem was fixed. But the problem was created by Boeing for monetary reasons and some airlines were also part of that. My not travelling on the Max will not be noted but I will not do it. This latest problem may (or may not) turn out to be a manufacturing problem. I expect that millions of people will be safely carried by the Max but it does not change my view.

The 787 is in related territory. Thus far I have only done four sectors on it and can see/feel no advantage to me. I understand the advantage for the operators. Thus far, the 78 has had longer to have design problems addressed but we have yet to learn about any manufacturing ones. It looks like I may have to use the 78 later this year as the operator is not giving me any options - even though they originally said that the route in question would be served by a different machine.

I won’t fly the Max and avoid any airline that operates it where it could be used as a replacement airframe.
it just isn’t worth the risk.

Because like in several other industries, the regulators have been compromised (in this case by the manufacturer)

I’d sooner rely on my own common sense.

That seems fair enough.

If I had to get on a 737 Max I would do so, but would avoid it if I could, at least until, as you say, the cause of the Alaska Air incident is identified.

Unlike some, I don't have an issue with other Boeing types.

I would fly on the 737 Max but keep my seatbelt on at all times.

I think that after the MCAS-debacle, future safety statistics will prove the MAX not to be an unacceptable safety risk.
That being said, I'll try to avoid it where I can, but that's got to do more with the fact the MAX was a project ran by bean-counters and the design being based one time too many, on grandfather rights.
Refusing to fly with Ryanair on socio-economic grounds will, in my continent anyway, facilitate future MAX-avoiding.

Contributing also, my disliking the 737 since its introduction, with the fat, ugly original one, replacing the mighty 727 in my neck of the woods. Not to speak about the subsequent generation with its 'unaesthetic' (to avoid further foul language) engines being forced under the too low a wing.:8 And yes, the MAX did a good job on this aspect....because there was no other option...

I believe that other recent 737s (737-800, 737-900) have this plug door arrangement? Should I avoid them too?

It seems that the question abiout this incident is not design but manufacturing. Depending on time and place of manufacturer - will hinge any concerrns.

I’ve flown in the back several times on the 39M over the past few months on Alaska and United. Nice planes, the pilots seem to like them also.

At this point I would actively avoid flying on a max.

This information is from the website of FR24. I think they are known as a reliable source of fleet data.

Which airlines operate the 737-9 MAX?

They detail which have the door active and which blocked.

Great, and to simplify more, the 737's with Door Plugs (exit unused) has a Window, and those with an active exit door - these have a small porthole.

The 737-900ER (a stretched -800) has the door option.
900's do not have them (such as KLM's)
No -800's have them.

More than 80% of the Max 9 aircraft built to date have the door plug.