In the 22 months that Boeing’s 737 Max flew commercially before it was grounded, the jet became the company’s flagship as well as an integral part of the global aviation system, and the American economy.
Airlines around the world sped the plane into service, eager to capitalize on its efficient engines. Some low-cost carriers built new routes around the Max, which could travel farther on less fuel than its predecessor. Boeing’s stock soared thanks to strong demand for the jet.
While designing its newest jet, Boeing decided to make two significant changes to an automated system now suspected of playing a role in two deadly crashes of the plane.
Despite the added risks, the Federal Aviation Administration did not conduct another safety review of the anti-stall system, since the changes didn’t affect what it considered a critical phase of flight, namely high-speed maneuvers.
Boeing dismissed concerns about a powerful new anti-stall system on the 737 Max for months, insisting that pilots could deal with any problems by following a checklist of emergency procedures.
Now, the preliminary findings from the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 have cast doubt on whether those instructions were sufficient, adding to the scrutiny over Boeing’s and federal regulators’ response to two deadly crashes involving the same jet model.
For most of the history of powered flight, the United States has been a world leader in aviation.
This nation’s aviation regulatory body, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has long been the gold standard of safety regulation in global aviation, often a template for other nations to follow in technical and safety matters.
Boeing BA, +1.32% has long been the world’s preeminent airplane maker.
But now, our credibility as leaders in aviation is being damaged. Boeing and the FAA have been found wanting in this ugly saga that began years ago but has come home to roost with two terrible fatal crashes, with no survivors, in less than five months, on a new airplane type, the Boeing 737 Max 8, something that is unprecedented in modern aviation history.
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