Boeing delayed fix of defective 737 MAX warning light for three years: U.S. lawmakers

By Eric M. Johnson

 

FILE PHOTO: The cockpit of Jet Airways Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircarft is pictured during its induction ceremony at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport in Mumbai, India, June 28, 2018. Picture taken June 28, 2018. REUTERS/Abhirup Roy/File Photo

 

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Boeing Co learned that a cockpit warning light on its 737 MAX jetliner was defective in 2017 but decided to defer fixing it until 2020, U.S. lawmakers said on Friday.

 

The defective warning light alerts pilots when two sensors that measure the angle between the airflow and the wing disagree. Faulty "angle of attack" data is suspected of playing a role in two deadly crashes involving Boeing's best-selling 737 MAX in Indonesia in October and in Ethiopia in March.

 

Those crashes, which killed 346 people, have triggered investigations by aviation regulators and U.S. lawmakers and left Chicago-based Boeing facing one of the biggest crises in its more than 100-year history.

 

Boeing decided in November 2017 to defer a software update to correct the so-called AOA Disagree alert defect until 2020, three years after discovering the flaw, U.S. Congressmen Peter DeFazio and Rick Larsen said in a press release on Friday. Boeing only accelerated this schedule after the Lion Air accident in Indonesia, they added.

 

Boeing spokesman Gordon Johndroe said by email that a company safety review found the absence of the AOA Disagree alert did not adversely impact airplane safety or operation.

 

"Based on the safety review, the update was scheduled for the MAX 10 entry into service in 2020," Johndroe said. "We fell short in the implementation of the AoA Disagree alert and are taking steps to address these issues so they do not occur again."

 

Boeing has said it discovered the problem in 2017, soon after it began delivering its top-selling 737 MAX aircraft to customers. But it did not inform the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) about the defect until after the Lion Air crash more than one year later, the lawmakers said.

 

The House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure sent letters to Boeing, supplier United Technologies Corp and the FAA requesting further details on the AoA Disagree alert, the lawmakers said.

 

The letter was the second such records request sent by the committee to Boeing and the FAA related to its investigation into the MAX aircraft.

 

(Reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle; Editing by Tom Brown)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-06-08

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Surprised this Warning Light wasn't "optional" equipment, for which Boeing planned to charge airlines extra for?

 

Boeing Salesman: "Oh, you want wings with components which do not fall off mid-flight? Let me talk to my manager".

 

 

American greed instead of Thai greed. 

1 minute ago, robblok said:

American greed instead of Thai greed. 

 

Yeah, maybe "along with"?

 

 

It seems like this company has a lot of explaining to do to reassure me to step onto another Boeing aircraft.

When you read further into recent history  the 737 is not the only type where corners have been cut to enhance profits.

This is the result when large corporations are allowed to regulate themselves. 

In light of  the  complicit  knowledge of  faults  and the  associated deaths  of  many this  company deserves  law suits  until oblivion !

 

quote from the OP.

"The defective warning light alerts pilots when two sensors that measure the angle between the airflow and the wing disagree. Faulty "angle of attack" data is suspected of playing a role in two deadly crashes involving Boeing's best-selling 737 MAX in Indonesia in October and in Ethiopia in March."

 

Further quote "Boeing spokesman Gordon Johndroe said by email that a company safety review found the absence of the AOA Disagree alert did not adversely impact airplane safety or operation."

 

Tell that to the families of the 346 people who died in 2 separate crashes.

 

Boeing spokesman Gordon Johndroe should personally visit every family at his own expense, grovel and beg their mercy on himself.

 

He should explain that the 346 senseless deaths were the result of Boeing trying to save money at the expense of safety.

Boeing decided in November 2017 to defer a software update to correct the so-called AOA Disagree alert defect until 2020, three years after discovering the flaw, U.S. Congressmen Peter DeFazio and Rick Larsen said in a press release on Friday. Boeing only accelerated this schedule after the Lion Air accident in Indonesia, they added

 

With other words, they are mass murders who should be in a tiny cell.

I've checked quite a lot about this "fine company" and found out that they fired employees who wanted to warn their bosses that a company didn't use computer programmed machines to cut out very important parts to stabilize the plane.

 

  And considering that they didn't inform the pilots and only gave them a 57-minute training course on a notebook. 

 

  All these people would still be alive if they'd have done their job in a way that traveling by plane is safe.

 

  I truly hope that the relatives will sue them in a way that the company goes bankrupt. They've proven that they're not trustworthy and shouldn't be allowed to produce airplanes anymore.

 

  After all, it doesn't seem to be only a "software problem" that can easily be upgraded. The plane should have been totally rebuilt to fit, but Boeing lied about all. Here's some very important information:

 

https://moneymaven.io/mishtalk/economics/boeing-737-max-major-design-flaws-not-a-software-failure-rVjJZBVzZkuZLkDJn3Jy8A/

  

 

  

12 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

Surprised this Warning Light wasn't "optional" equipment, for which Boeing planned to charge airlines extra for?

 

Boeing Salesman: "Oh, you want wings with components which do not fall off mid-flight? Let me talk to my manager".

 

 

There's not even one incident with such a plane that had the warning light installed.

 

I'd have thought that such a warning light must be mandatory for a plane to ensure safety.

 

  But, not for Boeing, they have their ways to bypass laws and regulations. 

   

Oops... time for a class action law suit. 

16 hours ago, robblok said:

American greed instead of Thai greed. 

Yes, American greed and arrogance is the holy grail of Thai greed - a slippery slimy pinnacle they aspire to. Going down at Boeing, 'Our deferment only cost 346 OUS (outside US) lives all paid off by the Warsaw convention. Have a nice day.'

The contempt of this company doesn't bear thinking about, how many have to die before they get their act together?

11 hours ago, Dumbastheycome said:

In light of  the  complicit  knowledge of  faults  and the  associated deaths  of  many this  company deserves  law suits  until oblivion !

 

I share your absolute disgust over what has happened.

 

However - I believe a better option would be to remove and prosecute the decision makers within Boeing. The "company" employs MANY people, most of whom have absolutely no knowledge of the dynamics. These people should not lose their jobs. America should not lose the skills, that exist within Boeing.

 

I simply say we need a way of "isolating" the decision makers AND pursue "law suits  until oblivion !"

 

Largest Aerospace Companies ($ billion)

Company	Revenue				Operating Profit
	2017[4]	2016[5]	2015[6]	2014[7]	2017[4]	2016[5]	2015[6]	2014[7]	Country
Boeing	93.4	94.6	96.1	90.8	10.3	4.90	5.18	7.47	United States
Airbus	72.3	70.8	68.8	80.6	3.70	2.40	4.34	4.50	EU
Lockheed Martin	51.0	47.2	40.5	45.6	5.90	5.55	4.71	5.59	United States
United Technologies	30.9	29.0	33.1	36.2	3.83	3.84	3.00	4.57	United States
GE Aviation	27.4	26.3	24.7	24.0	6.64	6.12	5.51	5.0	United States
Northrop Grumman	25.8	24.5	23.5	24.0	3.30	3.19	3.08	3.20	United States
Raytheon	25.3	24.1	23.2	22.8	3.32	3.24	3.01	3.18	United States
Safran	17.9	16.8	16.6	18.3	2.58	2.54	1.71	2.74	France
BAE Systems	13.4	13.4	13.9	13.7	-	-	-	-	United Kingdom
Rolls-Royce Holdings	12.7	12.0	13.2	14.7	1.11	0.98	1.77	2.15	United Kingdom
Leonardo (Finmeccanica)	12.5	12.8	13.9	17.2	0.90	1.05	0.94	0.72	Italy

 

 

 

Edited June 9, 20197 yr by MalandLee

19 hours ago, billd766 said:

quote from the OP.

"The defective warning light alerts pilots when two sensors that measure the angle between the airflow and the wing disagree. Faulty "angle of attack" data is suspected of playing a role in two deadly crashes involving Boeing's best-selling 737 MAX in Indonesia in October and in Ethiopia in March."

 

Further quote "Boeing spokesman Gordon Johndroe said by email that a company safety review found the absence of the AOA Disagree alert did not adversely impact airplane safety or operation."

 

Tell that to the families of the 346 people who died in 2 separate crashes.

 

Boeing spokesman Gordon Johndroe should personally visit every family at his own expense, grovel and beg their mercy on himself.

 

He should explain that the 346 senseless deaths were the result of Boeing trying to save money at the expense of safety.

Corporate Manslaughter x 346

 

 

29 minutes ago, Basil B said:

Corporate Manslaughter x 346

 

 

Oh, I think not.

Why haven't there been more crashes with airlines like SW, United, and numerous other airlines that operate 100's of these aircraft daily, Training, pilot skill, maintenance, etc perhaps?

It seems some steps were taken that shouldn’t have when many peoples lives are your responsibility when flying.... 

 

difficult to choke down these type of errors...

On 6/9/2019 at 7:09 AM, Wullie Mercer said:

The contempt of this company doesn't bear thinking about, how many have to die before they get their act together?

I am sorry if this seems to be off topic but it is about another US aircraft company and the fatalities from their product.

 

If the moderators feel that it is inappropriate please delete it. 

 

Way back in the 1960s Lockheed made a fighter called the F104 Starfighter. A total of 2575 were made.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_F-104_Starfighter#Safety_record

 

Nicknames

In Germany it earned several less-charitable names due to its high accident rate, a common name being Fliegender Sarg ("Flying Coffin"). It was also called Witwenmacher ("Widowmaker"), or Erdnagel ("ground nail"), the official military term for a tent peg.[97]
The Pakistani Air Force called it Badmash ("Hooligan").
Among Italian pilots its spiky design earned it the nickname Spillone ("Hatpin"), along with Bara volante ("Flying Coffin").
Among the Norwegian public and Royal Norwegian Air Force it was affectionately known as Vestfjordoksen ("the Vestfjord bull"), due to the immense roar of the aircraft based in Bodø, at the southern end of Vestfjorden.[98]
In the Canadian Forces, the aircraft were sometimes referred to as the Lawn Dart and the Aluminium Death Tube due to the high operational losses of 40% of airframes, and Flying Phallus due to its shape. It was affectionally called the Silver Sliver, the Zipper, or Zip, but normally the Starfighter or simply the 104 (one-oh-four).[99]

 

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/dblist.php?AcType=F104

 

page 01 of 11.

Edited June 10, 20197 yr by billd766
Added extra text

7 minutes ago, billd766 said:

Way back in the 1960s Lockheed made a fighter called the F104 Starfighter.

 

Indeed, but it only had one passenger once control was lost.

 

It certainly looked the part (as a fighter).

 

 

And Lawn Darts for comparison (not a fighter, but responsible for several deaths).

 

47 minutes ago, Crossy said:

 

Indeed, but it only had one passenger once control was lost.

 

It certainly looked the part (as a fighter).

 

 

And Lawn Darts for comparison (not a fighter, but responsible for several deaths).

 

However nearly a thousand F104s crashed. Canada lost 40% of theirs, Germany's Luftwaffe and the Kriegsmarine lost more than 30% or 262 from 916.

Long ago I was a member of an RC glider club in the south of the UK. 

 

Along with the regular ASW series gliders there were a few madmen who build slope-soaring models of powered aircraft.

 

Examples of the Vulcan, Tornado, Hawk even a space-shuttle flew very well. And not just jets, ME109, Spitfire, Hurricane flew very realistically.  There was an F104 which in a good wind flew very fast and realistically (it was seen very briefly on an episode of Jim'll Fix It), sadly it had the handling characteristics of the real thing and made several holes in a certain chalk horse.

 

This one:-

 

 

No F104 but still huge, fast fun!