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.

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.

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.

Maybe they have found another big parking area?

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...

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

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"

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....5ebd00b96.jpeg



Sun Express are Turkish and operate in Turkey and to the EU.

I *think* Sun Express is another trading name/subsidiary of Turkish Airlines - who have a lot of 737's.

The pictured aircraft first flew in April 2019, though as yet undelivered, so no connection with the restart of MAX production.

From FlightGlobal:

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.

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?

Boeing (admittedly under a different CEO) did that quite a few times last year. Share price needs propping up again? :rolleyes:

Suppliers need some credible perspective. And customers too.

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.

Its a joint venture, Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa

That's great news. Can you post some evidence? Perhaps peer reviewed?

Thanks "His dudeness".

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? .