Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Flight Deck Forums > Rumours & News
Reload this Page >

Boeing 737 Max Recertification Testing - Finally.

Rumours & News Reporting Points that may affect our jobs or lives as professional pilots. Also, items that may be of interest to professional pilots.

Boeing 737 Max Recertification Testing - Finally.

Old 27th May 2020, 21:37
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Everett, WA
Age: 68
Posts: 4,357
Received 157 Likes on 75 Posts
Boeing to Restart 737 MAX Production

Just heard this on the radio - Boeing is restarting the production of new 737 MAX aircraft in Renton.
I don't have any inside information, but I can't believe Boeing would take this step unless they had good reason to believe the MAX grounding will be lifted in the near future.
tdracer is offline  
Old 27th May 2020, 23:00
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Canada
Posts: 602
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/bo...212323178.html
Longtimer is offline  
Old 28th May 2020, 01:23
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: North by Northwest
Posts: 476
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Err, wonder what remaining airlines want to take delivery of any new aircraft? Seems to be a plethora of available types sitting round the globe.
b1lanc is offline  
Old 28th May 2020, 07:00
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Where I hang my hat.
Posts: 186
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
A news item says the Max 8 will not be flying before mid year, that's 1 month away, either Boeing know a lot or they know nothing, you would wonder how could they make sales with business how it is presently.
Matt48 is offline  
Old 28th May 2020, 07:35
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Freedom Sound
Posts: 355
Received 8 Likes on 4 Posts
Maybe they have found another big parking area?
esscee is offline  
Old 28th May 2020, 07:45
  #6 (permalink)  
Pegase Driver
 
Join Date: May 1997
Location: Europe
Age: 73
Posts: 3,658
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Quite a strange announcement as it comes hours after another one announcing a 13.000 layoff in production in Seattle...and a much earlier one on delivering 777x a the priority .. But as said before maybe they know something we don't...
ATC Watcher is online now  
Old 28th May 2020, 07:49
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: ex EGNM, now NZRO
Posts: 551
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There'll be a load of narrow body jets that someone could buy up cheaply and set up a low cost carrier if COVID ever goes away
Anti Skid On is offline  
Old 28th May 2020, 08:38
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Here
Posts: 961
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
This floated past on twitter - not seen this elsewhere but have no idea if it is correct or otherwise.

"Boeing 737 Max 8 test flight of #SunExpress TC-SOI (Boeing test reg N1779B). BFI PAE BFI as flight BOE301. Pics from 15 May 2020 at PAE. #Boeing#737Max#BoeingMax#737Max8#B737#SunExpress#PAE"





Sun Express are Turkish and operate in Turkey and to the EU.
jimjim1 is offline  
Old 28th May 2020, 10:40
  #9 (permalink)  
3db
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Kingston, Surrey, UK
Age: 73
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I *think* Sun Express is another trading name/subsidiary of Turkish Airlines - who have a lot of 737's.
3db is offline  
Old 28th May 2020, 11:21
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Reading, UK
Posts: 15,788
Received 196 Likes on 90 Posts
Originally Posted by jimjim1
This floated past on twitter - not seen this elsewhere but have no idea if it is correct or otherwise.

"Boeing 737 Max 8 test flight of #SunExpress TC-SOI (Boeing test reg N1779B). BFI PAE BFI as flight BOE301. Pics from 15 May 2020 at PAE.
The pictured aircraft first flew in April 2019, though as yet undelivered, so no connection with the restart of MAX production.
DaveReidUK is offline  
Old 28th May 2020, 14:20
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Middle America
Age: 84
Posts: 1,167
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
From FlightGlobal:
Boeing has resumed 737 Max production, bringing the factory back on line at “low” production rates almost five months after halting Max assemblies.“The 737 programme began building airplanes at a low rate as it implements more than a dozen initiatives focused on enhancing workplace safety and product quality,” the company says on 27 May.

Boeing does not disclose an initial production rate. The company says production will resume at a “very gradual pace” and that production ramp up “will be determined by the pace of deliveries to our customers”.

Boeing said in recent weeks that it intends to produce 31 737 Max monthly in 2021. The company produces 737s in Renton, Washington.

Regulators grounded the Max in March 2019, forcing Boeing to halt deliveries. But the company kept producing roughly 42 737 Max monthly for the remainder of 2019, causing a massive backup of undelivered aircraft.

With signs suggesting no immediate end to the grounding, Boeing halted Max production in January.

Since then, Boeing mechanics and engineers “collaborated to refine and standardise work packages in each position of the factory”, Boeing says. “New kitting processes will also ensure that employees have everything they need at their fingertips to build the airplane.”

”These initiatives are the next step in creating the optimal build environment for the 737 Max,” says 737 programme vice-president and general manager Walt Odisho.
Turbine D is offline  
Old 28th May 2020, 14:31
  #12 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Florida and wherever my laptop is
Posts: 1,350
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Anti Skid On
There'll be a load of narrow body jets that someone could buy up cheaply and set up a low cost carrier if COVID ever goes away
I have just had to book a business trip domestic from Florida to Dulles. All the airlines are acting as if getting pax back on the aircraft will be difficult and have reduced their flights to the level that most of the flights are already booked out. I think that the bounce back will be a lot faster than the industry seems to be prepared for. There are several expert assessments that the SARS-CoV-2 virus may just stop. Indeed one vaccine manufacturer in UK says the race is to get a vaccine to human test stage before the cases drop too low to be useful for the test.
The population appears to have split into two groups - the type that would not get in an aircraft now and definitely not in the middle seat as the fear conditioning has been so well done; and, the type that has realized that 95% of the population appears to have innate immunity so do not expect to get sick, and want to fly and get back to working normally. The second type is already trying to fly and is actually being told no flights available!! by the airlines that seem to be convinced that the panicked first group represent 100% of the population.
The first airline to get back to normal operations - perhaps with a mix of 'hypochondriac' flights and 'normal precautions' flights without blocked seats or masks to test the reaction - will become profitable again a lot faster than people expect. The demand for new aircraft will also pick up faster than expected. Provided paranoid politicians don't get in the way, international flights will also pick up rapidly as there is 'pent up demand'. Airlines should not think that recovery will take years this time next year with COVID-19 being rare, demand could easily be back to normal.
Ian W is offline  
Old 28th May 2020, 16:21
  #13 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Seattle
Posts: 715
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by Matt48
A news item says the Max 8 will not be flying before mid year, that's 1 month away, either Boeing know a lot or they know nothing, you would wonder how could they make sales with business how it is presently.
I had heard that they anticipated a return to service in the third quarter of this year.
https://www.aviationtoday.com/2020/0...re-validation/

The problem Boeing might be up against with both the suspension of 737 MAX production and Coronavirus shutdowns is a loss of their skilled workforce. Coming up to speed slowly will give them an opportunity to keep their best people while 'cleaning up' their production processes. Layoffs will adjust the workforce to match lower production rates (on all models). Later, as demand returns, the streamlining of shop floor processes may mean that not all who are being laid off will be called back.

Boeing has shut down a few times, but for shorter periods. Just to get paperwork straightened out and regain control of the production schedule. Their processes haven't scaled up very well under high rates in the past. It was one thing to halt 747 production when things were going full tilt. But with slow demand and the certification driven halt, what could be a better use of their time?
EEngr is offline  
Old 28th May 2020, 16:40
  #14 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: back of beyond
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by EEngr
I had heard that they anticipated a return to service in the third quarter of this year.
Boeing (admittedly under a different CEO) did that quite a few times last year. Share price needs propping up again?
fizz57 is offline  
Old 28th May 2020, 16:41
  #15 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,060
Received 64 Likes on 39 Posts
Suppliers need some credible perspective. And customers too.
Less Hair is online now  
Old 28th May 2020, 16:52
  #16 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Europe
Age: 45
Posts: 625
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think it's fair to surmise, that Boeing has lost all creditability when it comes to projecting a return to service timeline for the Max.

Ever since the grounding they've peddled the same message every 3 months: In 3 months we'll get the approval and the grounding will be lifted. Well, it hasn't happened yet and to my knowledge neither the FAA, nor EASA or CAAC, have committed to anything or provided guidance as to when RTS may be expected. To exacerbate the situation, as long as there's Covid-19 lockdowns, closed borders and travel bans in place there's simply no way the necessary tasks can be accomplished.
SMT Member is offline  
Old 29th May 2020, 11:11
  #17 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: schermoney and left front seat
Age: 57
Posts: 2,437
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by 3db
I *think* Sun Express is another trading name/subsidiary of Turkish Airlines - who have a lot of 737's.
Its a joint venture, Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa
His dudeness is offline  
Old 29th May 2020, 20:57
  #18 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Australia
Posts: 314
Received 5 Likes on 1 Post
Originally Posted by Ian W
There are several expert assessments that the SARS-CoV-2 virus may just stop.
That's great news. Can you post some evidence? Perhaps peer reviewed?


Slezy9 is offline  
Old 29th May 2020, 21:26
  #19 (permalink)  
3db
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Kingston, Surrey, UK
Age: 73
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks "His dudeness".
3db is offline  
Old 29th May 2020, 21:48
  #20 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Itinerant
Posts: 827
Received 76 Likes on 12 Posts
Originally Posted by Ian W
A: 95% of the population appears to have innate immunity

B: this time next year with COVID-19 being rare.
Re A: And this is also great news! First: Sources please. Second: Do you understand the significance if what you say (about the 95%) is true? Hint: It's anything but good news, as relates to current numbers of folks ill in the USA and what that means in the next months and year(s).
Re B: Wanna bet? .
grizzled is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.