3 month old 737-9 Max depressurisation incident

[najaB]

This is the fifth incident involving United in about a fortnight.

The sixth.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Does it really?

How, given presumably your lack of both knowledge and experience, do you come to this conclusion...other than to try and "impress" contributors. I doubt if you could even locate the component on the aircraft, let alone identify the structural designation or material.

Correct, it's a 25 year old aircraft but do you really think the aircraft still has all its original structure / components given it will have been subjected to various " C" and "D" (heavy maintenance) checks, plus lesser checks and routine maintenance.

And, presumably, you are fully aware of the maintenance regimes at United ?

You see I get more than rather annoyed when I read / hear unsubstantiated statements, like your own above, from spotters / unqualified amateurs .

There is a possibility, the causal fact could relate to maintenance practices, but, equally, catastrophic failure for example could be the cause. Until the NTSB have examined the history and remains of the panel, then it's far from wise to make incriminatory allegations.

As another contributor sensibly explained, panels of various sizes do fall from aircraft at times.

My point is that it very likely isn't a manufacturing issue as hinted by the post I quoted. United Airlines aircraft in the past week have been involved in fuel leakages, wheels falling off aircraft, hydraulic issues onboard and this incident regarding a panel falling off which all points to maintenance.

Boeing and Alaska Airlines have separately denied any legal responsibility for the injuries allegedly caused to dozens of passengers after a door plug blew out of a 737-Max 9 jet during a flight in January.

In its formal answers this week to a class-action lawsuit brought by dozens of passengers of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, Boeing generally acknowledged the preliminary findings of a National Transportation Safety Board investigation that determined the door plug was improperly installed. The company also acknowledged that, in an interview with CNBC, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun publicly described the incident as “our mistake.”

But Boeing denied liability for any damages alleged by the passengers, saying their lawsuit should be dismissed. The company also contended it cannot be held responsible for any injuries that may have resulted because its products were “improperly maintained, or misused by persons and/or entities other than Boeing.”Likewise, Alaska Airlines denied liability, claiming that any injuries stemming from the door plug blowout “were caused by the fault of persons or entities over whom Alaska Airlines has no control … including Defendant The Boeing Company and/or non-party Spirit AeroSystems.”

Alaska Airlines also denied that the activation of the plane’s cabin-pressure warning light three times within the previous month — including on the day before the door incident — was related or meant that the plane was unsafe to fly.

The legal filings, submitted as part of the case in the U.S. District Court in Seattle, represent the first formal response from the companies to any of the several lawsuits filed in the wake of the Jan. 5 incident.Daniel Laurence, an attorney representing passengers who are part of the class action, said Wednesday he was “frankly surprised” that Boeing and Alaska Airlines “don’t want to simply admit liability and put this case behind them.”

“They’re putting up a wall and circling the wagons,” added Laurence, with the Strimatter Kessler Koehler Moore law firm in Seattle. “That’s disappointing, given what I think most of the population believes and the evidence appears to clearly support — that they put this aircraft into the air with an unsecured door plug that, had it come out a few minutes later, would have killed everybody on board.”The incident occurred shortly after the Boeing-manufactured jet, carrying 171 passengers and six flight crew members, took off from Portland International Airport bound for Ontario International Airport in San Bernardino County, California. After reaching an altitude of about 16,000 feet, the door plug blew out, leaving a large hole in the plane’s fuselage and forcing the plane to turn back to Portland, where it landed safely.

Following the incident, which has brought new scrutiny to Boeing and its troubled 737 Max airplanes, the Federal Aviation Administration temporarily grounded some models of the plane. The NTSB investigation preliminarily found no bolts had been installed to secure the plug.

The FAA separately launched an audit into Boeing and its supplier, Spirit AeroSystems, finding “multiple instances where the companies allegedly failed to comply with manufacturing quality control requirements.” The Department of Justice has also separately opened a criminal probe into the door plug blowout, according to a source familiar with the investigation.In the wake of the incident, at least three separate lawsuits have been filed by Flight 1282 passengers and their spouses, including cases in state courts in Washington and Oregon.

Passengers involved in the federal lawsuit, seeking class-action status, claim they were physically injured and traumatized by the door plug’s blowout, which caused rapid depressurization of the plane’s cabin and led to widespread panic.

“The pressure change made ears bleed and combined with low oxygen, loud wind noise and traumatic stress made heads ache severely,” the lawsuit states. “Passengers were shocked, terrorized and confused, thrust into a waking nightmare, hoping they would live long enough to walk the earth again.”Since the incident, some passengers have avoided flying on any airplane, and some have sought counseling to deal with emotional trauma, Laurence said.The lawsuit also alleges that several passengers had trouble breathing in the aftermath of the door plug blowout because oxygen masks that dropped during the incident weren’t functioning.

Alaska Airlines denied that any oxygen masks did not work in its filing this week.

The airline acknowledged that the jet’s auto cabin pressure controller light had activated three times before the door plug blowout, leading Alaska Airlines to restrict the plane from flying on long routes over water. But the airline disputed that the light warnings “made the aircraft unsafe to fly (and) denies any correlation between the pressurization controller warning light activations and the door plug accident on Flight 1282,” its filing says.

Boeing and Alaska Airlines deny liability in lawsuit over door plug blowout

The legal filings represent the first formal response from each company to any of at least three lawsuits filed in the wake of the Jan. 5 incident.

www.nbcnews.com

Yes Spirit AeroSystems may not have tightened the bolts or even installed bolts. But at the end of the day, it is down to Boeing to make sure that the aircraft is properly checked over and safe before delivering to the customer. Boeing QA is there not only to check over work conducted by Boeing but also to catch anything missed by Spirit's QA.

Brisbane-based Virgin Australia has received news from American plane manufacturer Boeing that its anticipated 737 MAX 8 and MAX 10 deliveries will need to wait as the manufacturer has experienced production delays. The airline regrettably shared the news with all Virgin staff on March 15th. With ten of the new variants on order, most of these were expected to be delivered this year, aiding the airline's gradual expansion (since it severely trimmed its international network in the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic and during its time in voluntary administration).

Twenty-five additional B737-10 were due to arrive down under in 2025. While the airline publicized its delivery timeline earlier this year (January) was intact, Boeing has now said it can expect four B737-8 by the end of 2024, with six more scheduled in 2025. The B737-10 deliveries, however, are an even more blow to the airline, with none expected until the 2026 financial year.

A word from Virgin​

While those with travel plans with the carrier could be concerned their trip is in jeopardy, the airline has been quick to dull down any panic, with a Virgin Australia spokesperson noting:

We have been advised by Boeing there will be a delay to the delivery of some B737-8 aircraft, and we are working to minimise impacts to our schedule.”
Boeing has also weighed in on the situation, noting to ch-Aviation:

"We are squarely focused on implementing changes to strengthen quality across our production system and taking the necessary time to deliver high-quality airplanes that meet all regulatory requirements. We continue to stay in close contact with our valued customers about these issues and our actions to address them."

Boeing Troubles Continue As Virgin Australia's 737 MAX Deliveries Face Delays

2026 is the new deadline for the B737 MAX 10.

simpleflying.com

I wouldn't be surprised if Virgin Australia, like United, begins switching 737-10 delivery slots to the 737-9 or 737-8 to prioritise expansion and fleet renewal over capacity.

At the “Europe 2024” conference in Berlin, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury expressed concern over maintaining the aerospace industry’s safety reputation.

"I am not happy with the problems of my competitor,” he said in reply to questions about Boeing’sBA technical problems, according to Reuters. “They are not good for the industry a whole." Faury added: "We are in an industry where quality and safety is top priority.”During the event, Bloomberg reports French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said, “I now prefer flying in Airbus over Boeing — my family too, they care about me.”

Airbus CEO Is Not Happy With Boeing's Troubles

At the “Europe 2024” conference in Berlin, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury expressed concern over maintaining the aerospace industry’s safety reputation.

www.forbes.com

Makes sense, Airbus is having their own delivery delays and can't supply the entire industry with all the planes they need alone. It is in Airbus' interest for Boeing to succeed.

Ryanair’s outspoken boss Michael O’Leary has criticised the French finance minister for “silly and ill-advised” remarks about preferring to fly on Airbus than Boeing, saying he was a “stupid politician”.

The CEO of the Irish airline was responding to Bruno Le Maire’s comments that he would hesitate to fly on a Boeing aircraft and that Airbus is “still producing by far the best planes”. The French government is Airbus’s biggest single shareholder, with a stake of about 10.8 per cent.

“I now prefer flying in Airbus over Boeing — my family too, they care about me,” Mr Le Maire said on Tuesday at the Europe 2024 conference in Berlin, addressing the chief executive of the European planemaker, Guillaume Faury, who was in the audience.

Ryanair boss slams 'stupid' French minister for saying Airbus is better than Boeing

Michael O'Leary said the French finance minister's comments about preferring Airbus over Boeing were 'silly and ill-advised'

inews.co.uk

At the same time, O'Leary said he wants more Airbus aircraft at Ryanair subsidiary Lauda Air.

Ryanair CEO: "I Would Like To Have A Bigger Number Of Airbus Aircraft”

The Ryanair Group operates 27 Airbus A320 family aircraft.

simpleflying.com

“The plan for the Lauda fleet is we currently have 27 A320s. We would like to increase that number to 50. But at the moment Airbus is backed up with aircraft deliveries out to 2030. My leases only run up to 2028/29. So I would be hopeful of either extending those leases, or replacing them with other leased [A320]ceos until I can get a deal done with Airbus for new Airbus aircraft some time in the next 5-10 years.”

“My preferred alternative is to replace those aircraft with more Airbus aircraft. I would like to have a bigger number of Airbus aircraft in the fleet but at the moment I can’t get them. If I still can’t get them by 2028 when we have to return those [leased] aircraft I’ll replace them with 737s.”

Seems like Ryanair is using incoming MAX aircraft for expansion and 737 NG replacement.

The Seattle FBI office has alerted Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 passengers that each may be a “possible victim of a crime” after a midair blowout aboard a Boeing 737 MAX airliner earlier this year.

The agency sent a letter to passengers Tuesday, confirming that the FBI — the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Justice — has opened a criminal investigation following the Jan. 5 blowout. On that flight, a piece of the fuselage of a Boeing 737 MAX 9 plane blew off as the plane left Portland.

Federal investigators contend four bolts meant to secure the fuselage piece, a plug covering a hole for an optional emergency exit, weren’t installed when the plane rolled out of Boeing’s Renton assembly plant late last year. Congress and federal regulators have intensified scrutiny of Boeing in the months since the blowout, which has precipitated a criminal investigation.

The letter sent by a victim support specialist at the FBI’s Seattle office was shared with The Seattle Times by a passenger, as well as an attorney representing several passengers on board.

“As a Victim Specialist with the Seattle Division, I’m contacting you because we have identified you as a possible victim of a crime,” the letter sent to Alaska Flight 1282 passengers read.

“This case is currently under investigation by the FBI,” it continued. “A criminal investigation can be a lengthy undertaking, and for several reasons, we cannot tell you about its progress at this time.”

FBI to Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 passengers: You may be a crime victim

The FBI sent a letter to passengers who were on board the Alaska Airlines flight confirming it had opened a criminal investigation into the midair blowout.

www.seattletimes.com

Not surprised but this isn't good news for Boeing, they have to get their act together.

Boeing’s board of directors has apparently agreed to meet with major airline CEOs without the presence of its CEO, David Calhoun, as reported by Fox News and the Wall Street Journal earlier today. The meeting would be the latest confrontation between business executives and aviation industry leaders that Boeing has faced after the failure of a door plug on the now infamous January 5th Alaska Airlines 1282 flight.

It’s unclear which airlines will be involved in the meeting. Boeing itself declined to comment. US Airlines represents some of the largest customers of Boeing aircraft, with American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines ranked as the top 3 largest airlines in the world for their fleet size.

Airline CEOs Demand Meeting With Boeing Board Of Directors Without CEO David Calhoun

It's unclear when the meeting will take place.

simpleflying.com

This is a real sign of no confidence in Calhoun from the airlines, although I'm surprised that the CEOs are happy for Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stan Deal to be at the meeting.

Ryanair group chief executive Michael O’Leary has declared his confidence in the safety of Boeing 737 Max aircraft but says he still believes the airframer’s management team in Seattle needs to “get its act together”.

Speaking during the Airlines for Europe (A4E) Aviation Summit in Brussels on 20 March, O’Leary said the pan-European carrier was seeing fewer quality issues in its recently delivered 737 Max 8-200 narrowbodies, but noted: “We still find spanners under floorboards, missing small things [such as] handles on seats that shouldn’t be missing when you are buying a $100 million piece of kit, and that needs to change.”But while O’Leary says Boeing still has work to do, he also says he “doesn’t want to throw the baby out with the bathwater”.“I have a lot of confidence in David Calhoun as the CEO of Boeing and [Brian] West as CFO,” he states. “I have less confidence in the management in Seattle [where Boeing Commercial Airplanes is based]… we need Boeing to fix the management and to get their act together.

“I think that process has started and will rapidly catch up.”

He also welcomes the US Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) stricter oversight of Boeing programmes, saying: “I think the FAA regulation over Boeing has been far too lax for too long.”Still, O’Leary is keen to point out that while the 737 Max programme has generated a lot of headlines for the wrong reasons and that “production quality challenges” remain, Ryanair operates more than one million flights per year with 737-family aircraft and that he ultimately has confidence in the jet.

He also highlights the challenges Airbus is having with Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-powered A320neo-family jets, saying that just as he still has confidence in the Max, “I have confidence in the Airbus aircraft”.

Those dual challenges do mean, however, that capacity is going to be constrained through the coming summer season.“Are we going to have [Boeing] delivery delays through the remainder of this year? Yes,” O’Leary says. “And is capacity in Europe going to be challenged because 20% of the Airbus fleet is going to be grounded? Yes. These are challenges that we all face.

“Both of them will fix them [but] it will take a year or two… to recover lost production.”

Fewer ‘spanners under floorboards’ but O’Leary still seeks Boeing improvements

Ryanair group chief executive Michael O'Leary has declared his confidence in the safety of Boeing 737 Max aircraft but says he still believes the airframer's management team in Seattle needs to "get its act together".

www.flightglobal.com

Sounds like O'Leary is one of the few people who has confidence in Calhoun (along with IATA's Willie Walsh) but also has confidence in West but doesn't have confidence in Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stan Deal.

Does it really?

How, given presumably your lack of both knowledge and experience, do you come to this conclusion...other than to try and "impress" contributors. I doubt if you could even locate the component on the aircraft, let alone identify the structural designation or material.

Correct, it's a 25 year old aircraft but do you really think the aircraft still has all its original structure / components given it will have been subjected to various " C" and "D" (heavy maintenance) checks, plus lesser checks and routine maintenance.

And, presumably, you are fully aware of the maintenance regimes at United ?

You see I get more than rather annoyed when I read / hear unsubstantiated statements, like your own above, from spotters / unqualified amateurs .

There is a possibility, the causal fact could relate to maintenance practices, but, equally, catastrophic failure for example could be the cause. Until the NTSB have examined the history and remains of the panel, then it's far from wise to make incriminatory allegations.

As another contributor sensibly explained, panels of various sizes do fall from aircraft at times.

Federal regulators are increasing their oversight of United Airlines, the company announced Friday, following a series of recent issues including a piece of the outer fuselage falling off one jet, an engine fire and a plane losing a tire during takeoff.

United's vice president of corporate safety, Sasha Johnson, said the Federal Aviation Administration will examine "multiple areas of our operation" to ensure safety compliance.

"Over the next several weeks, we will begin to see more of an FAA presence in our operation as they begin to review some of our work processes, manuals and facilities," she said in a note to employees. "We welcome their engagement and are very open to hear from them about what they find and their perspective on things we may need to change to make us even safer."Johnson said the FAA will pause certification activities but did not provide details.

The agency said it "routinely monitors all aspects of an airline's operation" and did not describe any additional steps it is taking in United's case.

In a statement, an agency spokesperson said FAA oversight "focuses on an airline's compliance with applicable regulations; ability to identify hazards, assess and mitigate risk; and effectively manage safety."

Earlier this week, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker told NBC News, "We are going to look at each one of these incidents and see if we see a pattern. ... No one likes to see this spike of incidents."

Whitaker said he spoke with United CEO Scott Kirby about the events.Separately this week, Kirby tried to reassure customers that the airline is safe, saying that the recent issues were unrelated to each other.

Kirby said the airline was already planning an extra day of training for pilots starting in May and making changes in training curriculum for newly hired mechanics and that it would consider additional changes.

Among the most recent issues, a chunk of outer aluminum skin was discovered to have fallen off the belly of a United Boeing 737 after it landed in Oregon. Earlier this month, a United jet suffered an engine fire during takeoff from Houston, and a tire fell off another United jet as it left San Francisco.

Other problems included a hydraulic leak and a plane veering off a taxiway and getting stuck in grass.

https://www.npr.org/2024/03/23/1240452412/united-airlines-says-federal-regulators-will-increase-oversight-of-the-company

Further proves my point.

 

[jfollows]

The Real Story on BBC radio had a good discussion (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct4q86):

Released On: 22 Mar 2024
The plane maker’s safety record is in the spotlight after a series of incidents. In January an unused door blew off a Boeing 737 Max 9 operated by Alaska Airlines shortly after take-off. An initial report from the US National Transportation Safety Board concluded that four bolts meant to attach the door securely to the aircraft had not been fitted. Prior to the incident, there had been other serious problems on the 737 Max production line, including the discovery of manufacturing defects affecting key parts of the planes, as well as a part protecting the central fuel tank against lightning strikes. A version of the 737 Max was also involved in two major accidents in late 2018 and early 2019, in which 346 people were killed. Those crashes were attributed to badly-designed flight control software. After the most recent incident, Boeing’s president Dave Calhoun said the company would be "implementing a comprehensive plan to strengthen quality and the confidence of our stakeholders.” So, what does Boeing need to do to win back trust? Celia Hatton is joined by a panel of expert guests. David Soucie - A former top flight accident inspector with the US Federal Aviation Administration (the FAA) and author of "Why Planes Crash". Oriana Pawlyk - Aviation reporter for Politico. Sally Gethin - An independent global aviation and travel analyst. Also in the programme: Captain Dennis Tajer - Lead spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association and a pilot for American Airlines. John Strickland - Aviation analyst and director of JLS Consulting.

Discussion included

• Quality Assurance being more than Quality Control
• A Boeing pilot who uses post-it notes in the cockpit as a reminder
• CEOs putting profit and shareholder return above other things

Maybe nothing new to someone who has been following this, but the programme is in the form of a discussion/question & answer and I felt that the person in charge made good points and steered the discussion well, and the panel members were coherent and sensible in their answers.

======Monday 25/3:
Boeing chairman Larry Kellner and CEO Dave Calhoun “stepping down” “at the end of 2024”, will that be necessary or sufficient to restore its fortunes? Kellner will leave in May. Stan Deal, CEO & president of “Boeing Commercial Airplanes” is leaving immediately also.

This is a real sign of no confidence in Calhoun from the airlines, although I'm surprised that the CEOs are happy for Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stan Deal to be at the meeting.

Sounds like O'Leary is one of the few people who has confidence in Calhoun (along with IATA's Willie Walsh) but also has confidence in West but doesn't have confidence in Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stan Deal.

They’re both leaving now …..

In an interview with CNBC following Monday's announcement that he was stepping down, Calhoun acknowledged the ongoing challenges at Boeing.


"We have this bad habit in our company," he said, adding production pressures continued to weigh on performance. "When you move it down the line, it sends a message to your own people that 'Wow, I guess the movement of the airplane is more important than the first time quality of the product.' And we have got to get that in way more balanced. Without a doubt."

 

[YorkRailFan]

Boeing chairman Larry Kellner and CEO Dave Calhoun “stepping down” “at the end of 2024”, will that be necessary or sufficient to restore its fortunes?

Boeing [NYSE: BA] President and CEO Dave Calhoun today announced his decision to step down as CEO at the end of 2024, and he will continue to lead Boeing through the year to complete the critical work underway to stabilize and position the company for the future.

Board Chair Larry Kellner has informed the board that he does not intend to stand for re-election at the upcoming Annual Shareholder meeting. The board has elected Steve Mollenkopf to succeed Kellner as independent board chair. In this role, Mollenkopf will lead the board's process of selecting Boeing's next CEO.In addition to these changes, Stan Deal, Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO, will retire from the company and Stephanie Pope has been appointed to lead BCA, effective today.

"It has been the greatest privilege of my life to serve Boeing," said Calhoun in a letter to employees. "The eyes of the world are on us, and I know that we will come through this moment a better company. We will remain squarely focused on completing the work we have done together to return our company to stability after the extraordinary challenges of the past five years, with safety and quality at the forefront of everything that we do."Kellner has served on the Boeing Board for 13 years and served as its chair since late 2019. As chair, he oversaw the establishment of a new board aerospace safety committee, and during his tenure led the recruitment of seven new independent directors, bringing deep engineering, safety, manufacturing and aerospace expertise to Boeing's board.

"Boeing plays an essential role in our world, and serving this company, and our people, has been a true honor," said Kellner. "After over a decade on the board and several years as its chair, I have been considering the right time for a transition of leadership on our board, and have been discussing that subject with Dave and the board in conjunction with Dave's own planning about his succession timeframe. I want to thank Dave for his tremendous leadership of our company, and I know he will finish the job this year that he started in 2020 to position Boeing, and our employees, for a stronger future. With Dave's decision to step down as CEO at the end of this year, now is the right time for a transition to my successor. Steve is the ideal next leader to take on the role of board chair, and it is important that the CEO selection process be led by a new chair who will stay at the helm as a partner to the new CEO. With a strong board, an excellent management team and 170,000 dedicated Boeing employees, I am fully confident in our company's future."Mollenkopf has served on the board of directors since 2020. He was previously CEO of Qualcomm. He has bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering.

"I am honored and humbled to step into this new role," said Mollenkopf. "I am fully confident in this company and its leadership – and together we are committed to taking the right actions to strengthen safety and quality, and to meet the needs of our customers. I also want to thank both Larry and Dave for their exceptional stewardship of Boeing during a challenging and consequential time for Boeing and the aerospace industry."

Pope has been serving as chief operating officer of Boeing since January of this year. Previously, she was president and chief executive officer of Boeing Global Services, where she was responsible for leading the company's aerospace services for commercial, government and aviation industry customers worldwide. Prior, she was chief financial officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, and has held positions in every Boeing business unit. She begins her role as President and CEO of Commercial Airplanes immediately.

Boeing Announces Board and Management Changes

Boeing [NYSE: BA] President and CEO Dave Calhoun today announced his decision to step down as CEO at the end of 2024, and he will continue to lead Boeing through the year to complete the critical...

boeing.mediaroom.com

In addition, Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stan Deal is stepping down with Stephanie Pope (former COO) becoming CEO at BCA (Boeing Commercial Airplanes) effective today.

To answer your question, it will take a long time to turn around the fortunes at Boeing and the culture on the work floor. I personally am not holding my breath with Pope as CEO at BCA as she is an accountant and has no experience in engineering or aerospace prior to becoming Boeing COO. We shall have to wait and see who the Board appoints as new CEO at Boeing.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Boeing Latest…

Today, we welcome news of management changes inside Boeing and look forward to working closely with Dave Calhoun and Stephanie Pope to eliminate delivery delays.

Speaking from our Dublin HQ, Michael O’Leary had this to say:

https://twitter.com/Ryanair/status/1772257678846288115?t=GINfl-acWhsQhESl3y8THw&s=19

Video description: Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary thanks Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stan Deal for his 30 years at Boeing and says he and the entire team at Ryanair look forward to working with Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO (effective today) Stephen Pope on reducing delivery delays and increasing quality.

Unsurprisingly, O'Leary supports the leadership change after previously expressing his frustration with Boeing leadership several times.

The new chairman of the board of Boeing, Steve Mollenkopf, has canceled roundtable sessions with airline chief executive officers (CEO), which would have included some of the manufacturer’s biggest customers in the United States.

Direct meetings
According to a report by Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter, Mollenkopf has axed the meetings planned with chief executives from the United States-based Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines.Instead, the new chairman is looking to reach out directly to the four airlines’ CEOs. The quartet requested a direct meeting with Boeing’s board of directors in late March 2024 as delivery delays, 737 MAX 7 and MAX 10 certification, and production quality lapses have continued to strain the relationship between the plane maker and its customers.

Boeing's New Chairman Cancels Planned Airline Roundtable

Less than two weeks after assuming his role, the new Boeing chairman of the board is changing the company's approach on how to deal with customers.

simpleflying.com

The meeting with airline CEOs has been cancelled in favour of meeting directly with 4 airline CEOs (said airlines remain anonymous), which I imagine will frustrate the airlines who wanted to meet with Boeing and now won't be.

Alaska Air Group (ALK.N), opens new tab said on Thursday that Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab had paid about $160 million to the airline in the first quarter as initial compensation to address the hit from the temporary grounding of 737 MAX 9 jets.
The payment is equivalent to lost profits in the quarter, the carrier said in a filing, adding it expects additional compensation.
Alaska shares rose 4.4% on the news. Boeing shares were up almost 1%.

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/alaska-air-says-boeing-paid-160-mln-compensation-airline-2024-04-04/

Nice paycheck for Alaska, although the passengers of AS 1282 will want this money.

 

[najaB]

Nice paycheck for Alaska, although the passengers of AS 1282 will want this money.

Note though that this payment is for the grounding that resulted from the incident, rather than for the incident itself. The passengers (and crew?) no doubt already have numerous claims against Boeing working their way through the court system.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Note though that this payment is for the grounding that resulted from the incident, rather than for the incident itself. The passengers (and crew?) no doubt already have numerous claims against Boeing working their way through the court system.

A couple of passengers are currently suing Boeing and Alaska for over $1 Billion.

 

[najaB]

A couple of passengers are currently suing Boeing and Alaska for over $1 Billion.

I suspect that, when they inevitably settle, it will be something like an 80/20 split between Boeing and Alaska as to who pays out. Yes, Alaska had some warning that something was wrong with the aircraft, but I'm fairly sure that the maintenance manuals don't say "Check that we put bolts in all the places we're supposed to have put them."

 

[YorkRailFan]

I suspect that, when they inevitably settle, it will be something like an 80/20 split between Boeing and Alaska as to who pays out. Yes, Alaska had some warning that something was wrong with the aircraft, but I'm fairly sure that the maintenance manuals don't say "Check that we put bolts in all the places we're supposed to have put them."

Agreed, who would've connected a pressurisation warning with loose bolts on the door plug?

 

[Ted633]

I suspect that, when they inevitably settle, it will be something like an 80/20 split between Boeing and Alaska as to who pays out. Yes, Alaska had some warning that something was wrong with the aircraft, but I'm fairly sure that the maintenance manuals don't say "Check that we put bolts in all the places we're supposed to have put them."

However, I strongly suspect that the maintenance manual would have said to check (along with other areas) all door seals for leaks. I would have thought that a ground based pressurisation run would have found some sort of a leak.

 

[edwin_m]

However, I strongly suspect that the maintenance manual would have said to check (along with other areas) all door seals for leaks. I would have thought that a ground based pressurisation run would have found some sort of a leak.

But the door plug doesn't count as a door...

 

[YorkRailFan]

However, I strongly suspect that the maintenance manual would have said to check (along with other areas) all door seals for leaks. I would have thought that a ground based pressurisation run would have found some sort of a leak.

The pressurisation test conducted at Boeing Renton before the aircraft was delivered didn't find anything wrong with the door plug.

 

[najaB]

I would have thought that a ground based pressurisation run would have found some sort of a leak.

Probably not, since gravity would have kept the plug in position vertically.

 

[yorkie]

More bad news for Boeing:

Boeing plane engine cover falls off prompting investigation

The Southwest Airlines flight had to return to Denver International airport shortly after taking off.

www.bbc.co.uk

Airline regulators in the US have begun an investigation after an engine cowling on a Boeing 737-800 fell off during take-off and struck a wing flap.

The Southwest Airlines flight returned safely to Denver International airport at about 08:15 local time (15:15 GMT) after originally departing to Houston.

Do we have any aviation experts on here who can say how serious this is, and is it something that has happened before?

 

[najaB]

Do we have any aviation experts on here who can say how serious this is, and is it something that has happened before?

If it was just the cowling then it's not something you want to happen, but it shouldn't be a major risk to safety of flight. It happens every so often, usually because a mechanic didn't turn all of the captive screws to the locked position.

Happened to BA a while back on one of their A319s. In that case one of the cowlings damaged a fuel pipe as it departed the aircraft and caused a minor fire:

During takeoff from Runway 27L at London Heathrow Airport, the fan cowl doors from both engines detached from the aircraft, damaging the airframe and a number of aircraft systems. The flight crew elected to return to Heathrow and on the approach to land on Runway 27R, leaking fuel from a damaged fuel pipe on the right engine ignited and an external fire developed. The left engine continued to operate satisfactorily throughout the flight. The right engine was shut down promptly, reducing the intensity of the fire, and the aircraft landed safely. It was brought to a stop on the runway and the emergency services were quickly in attendance. The fire in the right engine was extinguished and the passengers and crew evacuated via the emergency escape slides on the left side of the aircraft.

The investigation determined that a maintenance error had led to the fan cowl doors on both engines being left unlatched following scheduled overnight maintenance on the aircraft. The unlatched condition of the fan cowl doors was not identified prior to the aircraft’s departure the next morning. A number of organisational factors were contributory to the maintenance error. The operator has since taken action to address these issues.

This, and numerous other similar events, shows that Airbus A320-family aircraft have a history of departing with the fan cowl doors unlatched. It is also evident that, in practice, the flight crew walk-around inspection is not entirely effective in detecting unlatched fan cowl doors and therefore a design solution is necessary. Enhanced methods of detection through design solutions are being considered by the aircraft manufacturer.

Aircraft Accident Report 1/2015 - Airbus A319-131, G-EUOE, 24 May 2013

Number 1 and 2 engine fan cowl doors detached during takeoff, London Heathrow Airport, 24 May 2013.

www.gov.uk

 

[poffle]

More bad news for Boeing:

Boeing plane engine cover falls off prompting investigation

The Southwest Airlines flight had to return to Denver International airport shortly after taking off.

www.bbc.co.uk

Do we have any aviation experts on here who can say how serious this is, and is it something that has happened before?

Given the age of the aircraft that is much more likely to be maintenance by the airline. Probably didn't reattach something properly after routine maintenance. I think the aircraft is about 9 years old.

At the minute any incident with a Boeing aircraft makes big headlines when it's probably happened in the past and never been reported on.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Thankfully it wasn't as serious as Southwest Flight 1380 in 2018 where the cowling broke off smashing a window and partially sucking a passenger out of the window. Sadly said passenger didn't make it but everyone else landed safely.

Given the age of the aircraft that is much more likely to be maintenance by the airline. Probably didn't reattach something properly after routine maintenance. I think the aircraft is about 9 years old.

Definitely seems like it as FlightAware notes that the aircraft is booked to fly Chicago Midway (MDW) to Oakland (OAK) on Tuesday 9th April.

Spirit Airlines said on Monday it has reached a deal with Airbus to delay all aircraft deliveries scheduled from the second quarter of 2025 through 2026 and intends to furlough about 260 pilots, as the U.S. carrier looks to save cash.


The low-cost airline said it would defer the scheduled deliveries to 2030-2031. As a result of the deferrals, along with quality issues with engines made by supplier Pratt & Whitney, Spirit is furloughing pilots effective Sept. 1.

Spirit Airlines to defer Airbus deliveries, furlough 260 pilots to save cash

(Reuters) -Spirit Airlines said on Monday it has reached a deal with Airbus to delay all aircraft deliveries scheduled from the second quarter of 2025 through 2026 and intends to furlough about 260 pilots, as the U.S. carrier looks to save cash. As a result of the deferrals, along with quality...

finance.yahoo.com

More delivery slots becoming available for United to snag if they want to switch from the 737-10 to the A321neo.

 

[Lost property]

Given the age of the aircraft that is much more likely to be maintenance by the airline. Probably didn't reattach something properly after routine maintenance. I think the aircraft is about 9 years old.

At the minute any incident with a Boeing aircraft makes big headlines when it's probably happened in the past and never been reported on.

That's a very sensible post. It has happened in the past, several times, but, as Boeing is the current media "flavour of the month" any event, however tenuous, can be "attributed " to Boeing.

Not an expert, and would never claim to be, but, I do have a career in aviation and have unlatched / latched plenty of CFM 56 cowlings. It's straightforward, you simply follow the process.

Before the spotters / stale cheese sandwich brigade start with their "must be maintenance " statements, true, on the surface, this does appear to be maintenance related, but, as always, lets wait for the investigation and any Human Factors to emerge. There are known problems with the latches and AD's (Airworthiness Directives) have been issued to rectify them.

" usually because a mechanic didn't turn all of the captive screws to the locked position "


Oh really ?..your lack of knowledge is telling.

The last aircraft I encountered with "captive screws" on the cowlings was a Jaguar and even then only a few given the cowlings were part of the airframe structure due to the location of the engines.

Pod engines cowlings are secured by a series of latches.

And please, refer to engineers correctly, not as mechanics. A pax once made this mistake with me when I was asked to stow his suit carrier in the hold. Once he'd told me, and anybody in earshot, the cost of the suit, I was told to ensure it was flat !...unfortunately, the carried came into contact with various fluids on the ramp, but, was stowed flat...in the crew baggage compartment which meant, sadly, whilst he was stood forlornly waiting at the carousel, the bag was on it's way bag back to the UK.

 

[bahnause]

Thankfully it wasn't as serious as Southwest Flight 1380 in 2018 where the cowling broke off smashing a window and partially sucking a passenger out of the window. Sadly said passenger didn't make it but everyone else landed safely.

In this case, parts of the cowling and the engine intake were partly blown off by an engine failure. That didn't happen in the most recent case.

 

[najaB]

Oh really ?..your lack of knowledge is telling.

The last aircraft I encountered with "captive screws" on the cowlings was a Jaguar and even then only a few given the cowlings were part of the airframe structure due to the location of the engines.

Yes, I said screws but meant latches. It really is disappointing that people jump at any opportunity to display their superiority on forums like this.

And please, refer to engineers correctly, not as mechanics.

In the USA they are referred to as mechanics: https://aviationmaintenance.edu/blog/learning/requirements-aircraft-mechanic/

 

[edwin_m]

And please, refer to engineers correctly, not as mechanics.

Are you and they Chartered Engineers?

 

[Lost property]

Yes, I said screws but meant latches. It really is disappointing that people jump at any opportunity to display their superiority on forums like this.

In the USA they are referred to as mechanics: https://aviationmaintenance.edu/blog/learning/requirements-aircraft-mechanic/

It isn't a question of "displaying superiority ", one of clarification given the significant difference between the types of fasteners and hence your misleading statement.

And yes, I know the Americans use mechanic when referring to the " A & P" licence, but, this is the UK, not America.

" Are you and they Chartered Engineers? "

Ah, this is a old one, usually trotted out by those with an air of elitism and wish to impress. The CAA define Licenced Engineers as....guess what, Plus, if you read the qualifying criteria, you will find it to be more than closely aligned to that of a Chartered Eng.

However, I've never been over impressed with those who are pure theory engineers, who come up with designs that "look good on paper" but are devoid of practical maintenance considerations.

 

[najaB]

And yes, I know the Americans use mechanic when referring to the " A & P" licence, but, this is the UK, not America.

Southwest Airlines is from the UK???

 

[YorkRailFan]

Breakdown of Boeing deliveries for Q1 2024:

737	67
	767	3
	787	13
Total	83

Boeing Announces First-Quarter Deliveries

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] announced today major program deliveries across its commercial and defense operations for the first quarter of 2024. The company will provide detailed first quarter...

boeing.mediaroom.com

No 777Fs have been delivered this quarter so far which is interesting and concerning. This means Boeing is delivering an average of 22 737s a month which is far below the production cap of 38 set by the FAA and what CFO Brian West is aiming for. The 737 figures do not include the 1 P-8 delivered by Boeing which is based off the 737NG.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Engineer Sam Salehpour accused Boeing of taking shortcuts in the construction of its 787 and 777 jets.
He claimed he was "threatened with termination" after raising concerns with bosses.
But Boeing said the claims were "inaccurate" and added it was confident its planes were safe.
"The issues raised have been subject to rigorous engineering examination under [Federal Aviation Administration] oversight," the company said.
"This analysis has validated that these issues do not present any safety concerns and the aircraft will maintain its service life over several decades."
Shares in the plane manufacturer sank almost 2% on Tuesday after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it was investigating the claims, and the company reported it had delivered just 83 planes to customers in the first three months of the year - the smallest number since 2021.
The whistleblower complaint, which was first reported by the New York Times, is the latest incident to focus attention on the safety of planes made by US-based Boeing, one of the world's two major producers of commercial planes.

Boeing hit after new whistleblower raises safety concerns

Boeing shares dropped almost 2% after concerns were raised over its 787 and 777 jets.

www.bbc.co.uk

This is yet another concern of 787 production which is happening in South Carolina. Note that the South Carolina facility does not use Unionised workers. Boeing hasn't produced any 777s for Q1 2024 so far, production of the 777 occurs in Everret, Washington.

Quality standdowns that began within Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) are also extending across the OEM’s Global Services (BGS) segment, a senior company executive said.

“Whether that’s in our MRO facilities or in our digital software development teams, we’re doing it across the entire enterprise,” Dan Abraham, BGS VP-Commercial Sales and Marketing, told Aviation Week Network’s MRO Americas conference attendees here. “We’re stopping, we’re pausing, we’re asking questions, we’re meeting with employees, we’re looking at what we’re doing every day and how we do it, so we can get better.”

Boeing Quality Standdowns Extend Across MRO Segment | Aviation Week Network

Quality standdowns that began within Boeing Commercial Airplanes are also extending across the OEM’s Global Services segment, a senior company executive said.

aviationweek.com

At what point do we see Boeing Defence & Space doing this as well?

 

[DanNCL]

At what point do we see Boeing Defence & Space doing this as well?

No idea but their space sector could do with some proper quality control, the level of problems with Starliner is beyond a joke.

 

[YorkRailFan]

The U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations will hold a hearing next week to examine new claims from a BoeingBA -1.5% whistleblower published in the New York TimesNYT -2.3% on Tuesday. Sam Salehpour, a Boeing engineer, reported that design and manufacturing faults in the 787 Dreamliner and 777 fuselages could reduce the safe service life of these long-haul aircraft.

Chairman Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Ranking Member Ron Johnson (R-WI) sent letters to Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun and Michael Whitaker, Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, requesting their participation in the hearing and extensive documents on the manufacturing and certification of these aircraft.I contacted Boeing for more details on the company’s preparations for this hearing. Boeing confirmed cooperating with the Senate Subcommittee and shared technical details of the extensive testing conducted on its long-haul aircraft.The Senate Subcommittee called the hearing after receiving reports directly from the Boeing whistleblower’s attorneys that allege “alarming and dangerous manufacturing deficiencies that ‘are creating potentially catastrophic safety risks.’” Senators Blumenthal and Johnson wrote directly to Boeing’s CEO David Calhoun, detailing the scope of their inquiries and requesting extensive documents.

According to the letter, the hearing will delve into the whistleblower’s allegations and “Boeing’s culture of safety in light of recent incidents.”

The Subcommittee has also requested testimony from Calhoun. However, Boeing has yet to confirm whether the company’s CEO, who announced his resignation by the end of the year amidst the current crisis, will attend.In a statement, the aircraft manufacturer told me, “Boeing understands the important oversight responsibilities of the Subcommittee, and we are cooperating with this inquiry. We have offered to provide documents, testimony, and technical briefings and are in discussions with the Subcommittee regarding the next steps.”

Boeing Cooperating With Senate Subcommittee On 787/777 Whistleblower

Sam Salehpour, a Boeing engineer, reported that design and manufacturing faults in the 787 Dreamliner and 777 fuselages could reduce their safe service life.

www.forbes.com

The long awaited sequel to Muilenburg VS Senate Committee has arrived. I'm sure many (including the media) will love watching uninformed Senators grill Boeing.

United Airlines (UAL) today reported first-quarter 2024 financial results. The company had a pre-tax loss of $164 million, a $92 million improvement over the same quarter last year; adjusted pre-tax loss1 of $79 million, a $187 million improvement on an adjusted basis over the same quarter last year. These earnings reflect the approximately $200 million impact from the Boeing 737 MAX 9 grounding, without which the company would have reported a quarterly profit. In the quarter, the company generated $2.8 billion operating cash flow and free cash flow1 of $1.5 billion. The company continues to expect full-year 2024 adjusted diluted earnings per share3 of $9 to $11.

United delivered strong financial and operational performance in the quarter. The demand environment remained strong with a double-digit percentage increase in business demand quarter over quarter, as compared to pre-pandemic. Additionally, the company was able to take advantage of a number of opportunities to adjust domestic capacity which drove meaningful improvements in first quarter profitability. Atlantic and Domestic markets both saw large passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) increases year over year, with 11% and 6% growth respectively.

"I want to thank the United team for working so hard this quarter to deliver strong operational metrics for our customers and sharpen our focus on safety, while producing excellent financial results for our shareholders," said United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby. "We've adjusted our fleet plan to better reflect the reality of what the manufacturers are able to deliver. And, we'll use those planes to capitalize on an opportunity that only United has: profitably grow our mid-continent hubs and expand our highly profitable international network from our best in the industry coastal hubs."

https://www.united.com/en/gb/newsroom/announcements/cision-125330

Important to note that United has not received any compensation from Boeing due to the 737-9 groundings at the time of writing.

• Have agreed to letters of intent with two lessors to lease 35 new Airbus A321neos with CFM engines expected in 2026 and 2027.

https://www.united.com/en/gb/newsroom/announcements/cision-125330

Interesting to note this, as United originally selected the PW1100G to power the batch of A321neos they ordered directly from Airbus.

United Airlines, one of Boeing’s biggest customers, has struck a deal with the plane maker for compensation for the losses incurred from the grounding of 737 MAX 9 aircraft earlier this year. The events following the Alaska Airlines blowout incident in January were a major embarrassment for Boeing and cost a lot of money to carriers like United that suffered from operational disruption following the temporary grounding of the MAX 9 variant.United Airlines has announced that it has entered an agreement with Boeing to receive compensation for the financial losses suffered due to the grounding of its 737 MAX 9 fleet earlier this year.

United Airlines Forms Agreement With Boeing To Recover Q1 Financial Damages

The airline will receive credit memos for use on future purchases from Boeing.

simpleflying.com

United seems to have received credit memos and not hard cash, one can only guess what they'd do with the memos. That leaves Turkish Airlines, Copa Airlines and Aeromexico to be compensated as they were also impacted by the 737-9 groundings.

While the latest Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness directive (AD) for the Boeing 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 aircraft affects only a small portion of the United States-based fleet, one stakeholder once again called for a complete grounding of the whole fleet.

Loss of flight crew instruments​

The directive, published on April 17, 2024, with an effective date of May 22, addressed a failure of the standby power control unit (SPCU) under certain conditions. According to the FAA, the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), issued in August 2023, was prompted by a determination that the loss of a ground through the P6 panel results in the failure of the SPCU.
The FAA warned that a failure of the SPCU and ground through the P6 panel can potentially result in a significant loss of flight crew instrumentation and displays, leading to a safety risk. As a result, the regulator mandated that operators install two bonding jumpers from the P6 panel structure to the primary structure.

However, the FAA estimated that only 79 Boeing 737 MAX 8 or MAX 9 aircraft in the US are affected by the directive. According to the FAA, the estimated costs to adhere to the AD were $435 per aircraft, split between $255 labor and $180 part-related expenses.

Changes to the background information of the AD​

Three companies, as well as a trio of individuals, commented on the directive. While United Airlines supported the NPRM without change, Boeing requested the FAA to change the background section of the proposed rulemaking. The plane maker asked the regulator to clarify two points, namely that a single point of failure condition would result in the failure of the SPCU. Furthermore,

[…] the loss of SPCU function, in combination with other lost P6 functions, could result in a potentially confusing combination of flight deck effects and lost functionality. Boeing stated that the additional information would clarify and add detail to expand to other additional equipment in the P6.”

The FAA responded that while it agreed with the suggestions, the background section published in the NPRM was not repeated in the final rule AD. As such, it made no editorial changes to the directive, publishing it into the public domain on April 17.

Calls to ground the Boeing 737 MAX​

However, the Foundation for Aviation Safety and three individuals pleaded with the FAA to ground the type. In a brief response, the FAA said that the corrective actions by the directive will address the unsafe condition, which does not warrant an order to prohibit further Boeing 737 MAX operations.


In a separate filing, The Foundation for Aviation Safety, led by Ed Pierson, the executive director of the foundation, said that the P6 circuit breaker panel provides circuit breakers for many of the 737 MAX’s most critical electrical systems.

“Boeing leadership was made aware of the potential for electrical defects stemming from rushed production and engineering quality issues in the 737 factory as early as the spring of 2018, when chronic problems with electrical systems testing were reported to Boeing’s 737 General Manager in June 2018 and to Boeing’s CEO, General Counsel and Board of Directors in Feb 2019.”

According to the foundation, another serious electrical bonding and grounding problem was found involving the P6 panel and the SPCU in April 2021. It prevented the engines from starting, with the issue coming to light just five months after the 737 MAX was ungrounded following the two fatal crashes with the type, resulting in many changes to the aircraft and the FAA’s regulations.
Nevertheless, The Foundation for Aviation Safety questioned the fact that Steve Dickson, the then-FAA Administrator, called the 737 MAX “the most heavily scrutinized transport aircraft in aviation history.” The foundation rhetorically asked how exhaustive this process was if two serious electrical problems affecting flight instruments and engines were not discovered while the FAA scrutinized the aircraft.

“Since being ungrounded, MAX airplanes continue to exhibit large numbers of unexplained electrical malfunctions. This is a dangerous unresolved issue that will not be resolved by fixing this latest electrical problem with the MAX. The Foundation for Aviation Safety believes the MAX airplane needs to be grounded indefinitely.”

Grounding issue affecting 737 MAX engine ice protection​

In April 2021, the FAA published another directive related to the P6 panel, the mounting tray for the SPCU, and the main instrument panel (MIP) assembly. At the time, the regulator explained that it had received a report about an electrical bonding and grounding issue on a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The directive affected 71 aircraft in the US, with the regulator adopting the directive immediately, saying that Boeing had recommended operators to ground the affected 737 MAXs.

The FAA said that an investigation identified insufficient bonding of specific metallic support panel assemblies installed in two areas of the flight deck, affecting the electrical grounding of installed equipment. The bonding issues cropped up after “design changes,” which were absent prior.
As a result, while no in-service failures of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 or MAX 9 had been recorded, the FAA warned that without dedicated grounding paths, the existing uncontrolled ground paths could degrade or be lost completely, potentially affecting,

“[…] the operation of certain systems, including engine ice protection, and result in loss of critical functions and/or multiple simultaneous flight deck effects, which may prevent continued safe flight and landing.”

Ed Pierson was one of the four witnesses speaking in front of the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. The subcommittee launched an inquiry into Boeing after a whistleblower, Sam Salehpour, a current quality engineer at Boeing, alleged manufacturing deficiencies with the Boeing 777 and 787 programs. The plane maker denied the allegations, telling Simple Flying that the claims about any structural problems related to the 787 are “inaccurate” in a statement on April 15.

FAA Publishes New AD On 737 MAX 8 & MAX 9 Electrical Fault As Watchdog Calls For Fleet Grounding

In The Foundation for Aviation Safety's opinion, the continuous electrical problems of the Boeing 737 MAX warrants the grounding of the type.

simpleflying.com

The 737 MAX wasn't grounded when major loose bolts were found in the rudder area and the pressure bulkhead, meaning that it doesn't need to be grounded for this reason. Many airlines like United, Southwest and Alaska won't be happy about this.

United Airlines executives have confirmed that the airline has deferred some Boeing 737 MAX 9 deliveries as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) continues auditing the airline’s safety processes following a string of incidents. The airline has been in the news for all the wrong reasons of late, including regarding a runway excursion at Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).Minimal capacity impact
Speaking during the airline’s Q1 2024 earnings call, Brett Hart, the President of United Airlines, said that, as mentioned by Scott Kirby, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the carrier, the airline has begun “an in-depth review of our processes and procedures” with the FAA. Hart added that these audits provided a chance for United Airlines to reaffirm its commitment to safety.Nevertheless, the executive stated that deliveries will be delayed as the airline continues working with the regulator. As a result, United Airlines expected a “small number” of aircraft that were supposed to be delivered in Q2 2024 to be delayed. However, Hart said this would have a “minimal impact” on the airline’s planned capacity growth during the year.

“I am confident that we will be able to successfully look back on this review process, resulting in an even better airline for our customers, employees, and shareholders.”Fewer 737 MAX deliveries from Boeing
When United Airlines filed its 2023 results on February 28, it detailed that it had 159 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, split between 80 737 MAX 8 and 79 737 MAX 9, alongside four A321neos. As of April 16, its fleet grew to 166 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and seven A321neos.

At the end of 2023, the carrier said it expected to take delivery of 37 737 MAX 8, 19 737 MAX 9, and 25 A321neo aircraft in 2024. By April 16, following seven 737 MAX and three A321neo deliveries in Q1 2024, Boeing is now projected to deliver just 19 737 MAX 8 and ten 737 MAX 9 to United Airlines. On the Airbus side, the airline will take 22 A321neo aircraft through the year, just a couple short of the original target.During the next quarter, United estimated that its Boeing 737 MAX fleet would grow by six aircraft, while its Airbus A321neo fleet would grow by five. The airline does not plan to take delivery of any other aircraft types during Q2 2024.

The numbers do not include contractual aircraft delivery schedules. However, some of these Boeing 737 MAX delivery delays are due to no fault of United Airlines. Boeing is also prevented from reaching its projected production targets amid scrutiny of its manufacturing processes.

United Airlines Defers Boeing 737 MAX 9 Deliveries During FAA Safety Review

In addition to delivery delays, the safety review of United Airlines is further impacting its capacity growth plans during 2024.

simpleflying.com

United doesn't want any door blowouts during the FAA's safety audit obviously.

US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chair Jennifer Homendy refutes a whistleblower’s claim that Boeing concealed key documents related to the Alaska Airlines flight 1282 accident in January.

“I believe the whistleblower has the ship-side tracker, which we already have, [and] is not the documents we are looking for,” she told FlightGlobal on 17 April in Washington, DC. “We’re looking for other documents that don’t exist.”

The “ship-side tracker” is an non-authoritative communication system used by Boeing workers, not the company’s authoritative records database.
Homendy was responding to comments made the same day by Ed Pierson, a whistleblower and former manager on Boeing’s 737 line, during a subcommittee hearing of the US Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Government Affairs.


“NTSB has said there are no records documenting the removal of the door,” Pierson told the subcommittee. “This is a criminal cover up. Records do in fact exist. I know this because I have personally passed them to the FBI. Boeing’s corporate leaders continue to conceal the truth.”

The conflicting claims are over documentation of work done at Boeing’s Renton assembly site on the door plug of a then-in-production 737 Max 9. Several weeks after delivering the jet to Alaska Airlines, the plug failed during a flight, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the jet. The pilots landed with no serious injuries to passengers or crew.

The NTSB’s preliminary report suggests Boeing workers failed to install bolts to secure the plug. But Boeing told the NTSB it lacks records about the work, including which employees were involved.

“We still do not know who performed the work to open, reinstall and close the door plug on the accident aircraft,” Homendy wrote in a letter to the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation on 13 March. “Boeing has informed us that they are unable to find the records documenting this work. The absence of those records will complicate the NTSB’s investigation moving forward.”


In a 10 April hearing, Homendy added that Boeing is “working very well with us… They have provided us with all the documents that we’ve asked for that exist. They are aware that this record does not exist. They are equally concerned about the process here and the escape”.

Boeing declines to comment about Pierson’s allegation, as does the FBI. Reports have said the agency is investigating the door-plug incident.

Pierson, in testimony, did not specify what documents he was referring to.

NTSB chair refutes whistleblower claim of Boeing document cover up

US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chair Jennifer Homendy refutes a whistleblower's claim that Boeing concealed key documents related to the Alaska Airlines flight 1282 accident in January.

www.flightglobal.com

At least Boeing has provided documents that exist, that's something. But its still unacceptable that Boeing doesn't have vital documents that the NTSB needs.

Alaska Airlines (AS, Seattle Tacoma International) no longer expects to add 23 new B737 MAX this year, Ben Minicucci, Alaska Air Group’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said during a first quarter investors call. Instead, the carrier expects to get somewhere between ten and 20 aircraft from Boeing (BOE, Washington National) in 2024.

“We are in discussions with Boeing, and as we gain more clarity on those deliveries, we will update our expectations, but we expect full year capacity growth at this point to be below 3%,” CFO Shane Tackett said adding that talks about compensation are underway.

As of December 31, 2023, Alaska Air Group expected to add a total of 27 aircraft in 2024 to its fleet, including one B737-800(BCF) for its cargo division, seven B737-8s, sixteen B737-9s, and three E175s to be operated by subsidiary Horizon Air (QX, Seattle Tacoma International). In 2024’s first quarter, the group only added two E175s.

Alaska Airlines cuts 2024 Boeing delivery forecast

Several daily Operator News updates covering all Operator Route Network changes, strategic fleet developments and aircraft orders, start-ups and bankruptcies, mergers and acquisitions and partnerships and alliances.

www.ch-aviation.com

Alaska Airlines also has the uncertified 737-10 on order, Alaska is one of many airlines impacted by delivery delays at Boeing which have worsened following the blowout on AS1282 earlier this year.

Boeing (BA) on Wednesday reported results that beat Wall Street expectations after a tumultuous first quarter.

Boeing reported a first quarter core (or adjusted) loss per share of $1.13, narrower than the $1.72 estimated, on revenue of $16.57 billion, which was above forecasts of $16.25 billion but an 8% decline from a year ago.

The plane maker also reported negative operating cash flow of $3.36 billion, compared with a loss of $318 million last year, and negative free cash flow of $3.92 billion, compared with a loss of $787 million last year. Boeing said the results reflect lower commercial delivery volume and did not give updated production plans."Our first quarter results reflect the immediate actions we've taken to slow down 737 production to drive improvements in quality," Boeing president and CEO Dave Calhoun said in a statement. "We will take the time necessary to strengthen our quality and safety management systems and this work will position us for a stronger and more stable future."

After the release, Boeing shares were up over 2% in early trade.

Boeing Q1 results better than expected after tumultuous quarter headlined by 737 Max crisis

Boeing (BA) on Wednesday reported results that beat Wall Street expectations after a tumultuous first quarter.

finance.yahoo.com

Surprisingly, Boeing outperformed their Q1 2023 results despite everything discussed so far in this thread.

Lufthansa Airlines is anticipating further delays of its first Boeing 777-9 deliveries and now does not expect the first one to come until 2026, later than Boeing’s current plan, CEO Jens Ritter said.

“We no longer believe that we will get the first aircraft in 2025,” Ritter, speaking to reporters during a Lufthansa event, said May 2.
“We think it will be here for the summer timetable 2026 at the earliest.”

Lufthansa, which has 27 777-9s on firm order, is among the 777X family launch customers planning for already-delayed first deliveries to come in 2025.

In response to an Aviation Week query, Boeing pointed to its most recent public updates, CFO Brian West’s comments on an April 24 earnings call and a note in a related financial filing. Taken together, they say the company still expects initial 777-9 deliveries in 2025, followed by the 777-8F in 2027, adding that the FAA will dictate exact timing.

The company continues to tell Lufthansa that the airline’s first 777-9 will arrive next summer, Ritter said. Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr said as recently as early March that he expected 777-9 deliveries to start in 2025.

But ongoing delays in getting type inspection authorization (TIA), the last critical step in the FAA’s certification process, suggest Boeing’s current timeline will be hard, if not impossible, to keep.

Ritter said his understanding of Boeing’s current plan is that it is based on having obtained 777-9 TIA approval, which would kick off official certification flight test campaign, in March or April at the latest.

Boeing first applied for TIA in 2021. But the FAA, citing a lack of sufficient technical data, said the aircraft was not ready.

Lufthansa Sees First 777-9 Delivery Slipping Into 2026 | Aviation Week Network

Lufthansa is anticipating further delays of its first Boeing 777-9 deliveries and now does not expect the first one to come until 2026, CEO Jens Ritter said.

aviationweek.com

First it was Emirates, now Lufthansa and Lufthansa was previously optimistic about 777-9 deliveries starting in 2025. Even this is optimistic with 737-7 certification expected in 2025 and 737-10 certification at a later date.

According to ABC News, reporting on an email sent to the attorneys, the US Department of Justice has announced it will decide by May 28 if Boeing has violated its probation deal. Justice Department Fraud Section chief Glenn Leon sent the email on May 2 outlining the upcoming timeline.

"The agreement gives U.S. officials six months from the deal's Jan. 7 expiration -- or until July 7 -- to decide whether to prosecute Boeing on a charge that the company conspired to defraud the Federal Aviation Administration or pursue other alternatives to dismissing the case." - Reuters. This comes before the July 7 deadline (when the DPA or sort of probation period expires). Before that point in time, prosecutors must decide whether to file a motion to withdraw criminal charges against Boeing or whether the whole agreement should be torn up. Another option is extending the deferred prosecution agreement, which prolongs Boeing's probation. Consequently, lawyers are working quickly before the case against Boeing could be dismissed in a few months.

DOJ Sets May Deadline For Decision On Boeing's $2.5b Settlement Violation

The DOJ is set to make a decision on May 28 as to whether Boeing violated the deferred prosecution agreement.

simpleflying.com

Watch this space very, very closely. The DOJ (among others) has had enough with Boeing's issues.

Another chapter in the Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 saga sees Boeing awarding Alaska Airlines an additional payment for the inconvenience and loss of profits caused by the loss of the 737 MAX 9 door plug blowout.

More money, more problems
According to Reuters,Alaska Airlines has received $61 million in supplier credit from Boeing as additional compensation for the inconvenience and loss of profits caused by the incident regarding AA1282 and the subsequent grounding of all Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft.The airline revealed on Friday in its quarterly report that the credit will be used to purchase Boeing products in the future.The $61 million in credit is in addition to the $162 million in cash that Boeing had to pay Alaska Airlines in the first quarter of this year. It brings the total compensation paid to the airline to $223 million.

Alaska Airlines To Be Awarded Over $200 Million For The Boeing 737 MAX 9 Debacle

The airline has been awarded an additional $61 million, bringing the total compensation to over $200 million.

simpleflying.com

Good news for Alaska but United is still waiting for some compensation from Boeing related to the 737-9 groundings.

The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday it has opened a new investigation into a potential manufacturing quality lapse on Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner and whether inspection records were falsified.

Boeing informed the FAA in April that on some 787s the company may not have completed required inspections to confirm adequate bonding and electrical grounding where the wings join the fuselage body.

“The FAA is investigating whether Boeing completed the inspections and whether company employees may have falsified aircraft records,” the federal safety agency said via email.

The FAA added that Boeing is reinspecting all 787 airplanes still within the production system and must also create a plan to address the in-service fleet.

“As the investigation continues, the FAA will take any necessary action — as always — to ensure the safety of the flying public,” the FAA wrote.

This new 787 quality concern is unrelated to the 787 fuselage gaps flagged as unsafe in an April Congressional hearing by Boeing whistleblower Sam Salehpour.

FAA opens investigation into Boeing 787, questions inspection records

The FAA has opened a new investigation into a potential manufacturing quality lapse on Boeing's 787 Dreamliner and whether inspection records were falsified.

www.seattletimes.com

Yet another 787 issue, let's see if yet another production halt will be ordered by the FAA.

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were already in position inside the Starliner when the decision to halt was made because of a potential issue with an oxygen relief valve in the Atlas rocket run by the United Launch Alliance.

There was no issue with Boeing's Starliner Spacecraft which sits on top of the rocket.

Flight engineers discovered that the valve had been rapidly opening and closing in the period before launch and so the countdown was aborted.

The flight team are currently examining the data to see how much energy was expended by the valve. If it has exceeded its operational life it will need to be replaced, which ULA say its engineers can do in a few days.

The spacecraft had been expected to blast off from Cape Canaveral in Florida and make its way to the International Space Station (ISS).

The soonest a new launch attempt may be made is on Friday, Boeing said in a post on social media.

The mission has already been delayed for several years because of setbacks in the spacecraft's development.

"Standing down on tonight's attempt to launch," tweeted Nasa chief Bill Nelson. "As I've said before, @NASA's first priority is safety. We go when we're ready."

Starliner: Boeing's first crewed space flight postponed

First crewed space flight of Boeing's Starliner was postponed shortly before lift-off due to glitch.

www.bbc.co.uk

Whilst its disappointing, its good that safety is prioritised by Boeing and NASA.

 

[najaB]

Whilst its disappointing, its good that safety is prioritised by Boeing and NASA.

Technically, ULA rather than NASA.

And yes, I know ULA is a Boeing joint venture, but their management style is definitely more old-school, engineering-lead than BCA. I don't recall them ever having a launch vehicle failure.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Santiago Paredes who worked for Spirit AeroSystems in Kansas, told the BBC he often found up to 200 defects on parts being readied for shipping to Boeing.

He was nicknamed "showstopper" for slowing down production when he tried to tackle his concerns, he claimed.

Spirit said it "strongly disagree[d]" with the allegations.

"We are vigorously defending against his claims," said a spokesperson for Spirit, which remains Boeing's largest supplier.

Mr Paredes made the allegations against Spirit in an exclusive interview with the BBC and the American network CBS, in which he described what he said he experienced while working at the firm between 2010 and 2022.

He was accustomed to finding "anywhere from 50 to 100, 200" defects on fuselages - the main body of the plane - that were due to be shipped to Boeing, he said.

"I was finding a lot of missing fasteners, a lot of bent parts, sometimes even missing parts."

Boeing declined to comment.

'Fuss'
Spirit AeroSystems and Boeing have both come under intense scrutiny after an unused door came off a brand new 737 Max shortly after take-off in January, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the plane. According to investigators, the door had originally been fitted by Spirit, but had subsequently been removed by Boeing technicians to rectify faulty riveting.

The incident prompted the US regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration, to launch an audit of production practices at both firms. It found multiple instances where the companies failed to comply with manufacturing control practices.

Mr Paredes told the BBC that some of the defects he identified while at Spirit were minor - but others were more serious.

He also claimed he was put under pressure to be less rigorous.

"They always made a fuss about why I was finding it, why I was looking at it," he said.

"They just wanted the product shipped out. They weren't focused on the consequences of shipping bad fuselages. They were just focused on meeting the quotas, meeting the schedule, meeting the budget… If the numbers looked good, the state of the fuselages didn't really matter," he alleged.

Whistleblowing
Many of Mr Paredes' alleged experiences at Spirit form part of his testimony in legal action that disgruntled shareholders have brought against the firm.

However, in legal documents he is referred to simply as "Former Employee 1". This is the first time Mr Paredes, a former Air Force technician, has spoken publicly.
Before his departure from the firm, Mr Paredes led a team of inspectors based at the end of the 737 Max production line.

A second former quality auditor, Josh Dean, whose claims were also to form part of the lawsuit, passed away last week after contracting a serious bacterial infection.

The lawsuit accuses the company of deliberately attempting to cover up serious and widespread quality failings, and exposing shareholders to financial losses when those failings became exposed. Spirit said it "strongly disagrees" with the assertions in the legal action.

Boeing whistleblower says plane bodies had defects - BBC News

A former quality inspector for Spirit AeroSystems claims he found many defects on parts due for shipping.

www.bbc.co.uk

Yet another whistleblower, will be interesting if the Senate Subcommittee wants to hear from him. The FAA will certainly be interested, as will the NTSB.

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/07/emirates-chairman-to-boeing-get-your-act-together-.html

One of Boeing's biggest customers issued a call to action to its new management team, expressing frustration with the safety crisis facing the American plane maker and the consequent delays in order deliveries.

"We're not happy really with what's going on, we always really wanted to see this aircraft entering the fleet when it had been promised — and there is a delay, it's not only to us," Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and CEO of Dubai's flagship Emirates airline, told CNBC's Dan Murphy on Tuesday at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai.

I was surprised to see that Al Maktoum was the one to make these comments and not Emirates' President Sir Tim Clark.

Al Maktoum, who sits at the helm of the world's largest long-haul airline and helped launch it in 1985, echoed the sentiments of many other airline CEOs when it comes to expectations for Boeing.

"I think they have to put a lot of pressure in order to make sure that they deliver to the customer whatever they promised," he said.

Asked if he had a message for the plane maker, Al Maktoum said: "I always say, you know, get your act together and just do it. And I think they can do it."CNBC has contacted Boeing for comment.

The chairman did not indicate that Emirates would cancel the Boeing orders or move them to its French rival, Airbus.

"No, no — I won't be able to say exactly what we are planning," he replied when asked about the likelihood of such a move. "But I think you see that we are refurbishing a big number of aircraft within the existing fleet. ... And there will be no shortage within Dubai capacity."

He cited the airline's extension of part of its existing fleet, including the mammoth double-decker Airbus A380s, as helping provide sufficient passenger capacity.

Boeing knows that Emirates can't cancel their 777-9 order due to there being no other aircraft that is close to being an A380 replacement.

Boeing delivery delays continue to hamper Allegiant Air, as the ULCC no longer anticipates placing any MAX aircraft into service during the first half of 2024.

It now expects its first Boeing 737-8-200 to enter revenue service during the third quarter (Q3).

At the time of its last earnings call in February, the Las Vegas-based carrier was anticipating its first MAX in late March or early April, an aircraft it says is still awaiting U.S. FAA inspection.

The FAA has been inspecting and issuing final airworthiness certificates for all 737 MAXs since the fleet was ungrounded in December 2020. Allegiant’s first MAX is not only a new type for the operator, but also the first 737-8-200 being delivered to a U.S. operator.

Allegiant now projects it will receive six by the end of 2024, halved from prior expectations.

“This estimate is not based on guidance from Boeing but rather represents our best estimate based on information available to us today,” CFO Robert Neal told investors during a May 7 earnings call. The carrier is working with Boeing to devise an orderly delivery schedule, which it says may moderate its capacity growth in the short to mid term. The carrier has trimmed its full-year capacity guide by one point—expecting to be up by 3% over 2023.

Executives said they are incurring significant expenses as they wait for deliveries to begin.

“Prior to this brand-new type of aircraft entering the Allegiant fleet, we hire and train pilots, we plan our network and we take on other preparation and infrastructure costs,” President Greg Anderson said. “These material headwinds are at a current run rate of roughly $30 million annually to operating income.”

The ULCC announced its order for 50 737-7s and 737-8-200s plus options for 50 additional jets in early 2022, before expanding those options to 80 and converting six -7 positions to the -8-200 variant in Q3 2023. It had expected to take delivery of the first by the time of its Q4 2023 earnings call.

Allegiant Air’s First Boeing 737 MAX Delayed Again | Aviation Week Network

Boeing delivery delays continue to hamper Allegiant Air, as the ULCC no longer anticipates placing any MAX aircraft into service during the first half of 2024.

aviationweek.com

Allegiant is in a tricky position, Airbus' backlog stretches into the 2030's and no other manufacturer has a viable competitor meaning if Allegiant wants new aircraft As Soon As Possible, they'll have to stick with Boeing.

The redrafted Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Bill, initially introduced by the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in June 2023, includes provisions enabling Boeing to produce the 767F until January 1, 2033.

FAA’s emissions standard exception
The draft bill, published by the Committee on its website, now includes a provision addressing limitations for certain cargo aircraft under Section 1105. The original bill that was introduced in the Senate did not include the section.

Nevertheless, while the section did not identify Boeing or the Boeing 767F specifically, the reauthorization act would result in the FAA’s emissions standards, finalized by the ‘Airplane Fuel Efficiency Certification’ rule in February 2024, not applying to certain cargo aircraft for five years after January 1, 2028. The draft bill can be found here. The Air Current was the first outlet to spot and report the provision.The bill read that the aircraft, to whom the exception applies, is a purpose-built freighter with a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of between 180,000 kilograms (396,832 pounds) and 240,000 kg (529,109 lbs) and was certified by the FAA before January 1, 2023.

According to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) type certificate data sheet (TCDS) for the 767, including the 767-300F, the 767F’s MTOW is 187,333 kg (413,000 lbs). Meanwhile, EASA’s TCDS for the Boeing 777F, the only other purpose-built freighter produced by Boeing, read that the type’s MTOW is 348,721 kg (768,800 lbs).

Domestic flights only
However, while Boeing could continue producing the aircraft until January 1, 2033, the FAA would be obligated to prohibit aircraft falling within these parameters to fly outside of the US, meaning that they would be restricted to only flying domestic itineraries.

The limitations would only apply to aircraft produced on or after January 1, 2028, when the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) emissions standards come into effect. When the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its technical support document (TSD) for aircraft greenhouse gas standards in December 2020, the agency said that the 767F, as well as the Airbus A380, could be impacted by the new emissions standards.Under the assumption that Boeing would have ended the production of the 767F in 2023, the manufacturer would not need to improve the aircraft’s emissions levels to meet the standards. However, with the assumption that Boeing would want to continue making the aircraft beyond 2028, it would have a window between 2028 and 2030 to improve the freighter’s emissions to be compliant with the new in-production standards.

FAA Reauthorization Bill Grants Boeing 5-Year Emissions Waiver To Build 767 Freighter

The draft bill has replaced the FAA Reauthorization Bill that was initially introduced to the Senate.

simpleflying.com

Boeing needs to use these five years wisely to develop a 767F replacement (say 787F) or risk Airbus winning over market share with a potential A330neo Freighter.

Spirit AeroSystems has published their Q1 2024 financial results.

Spirit AeroSystems Reports First Quarter 2024 Results | Spirit AeroSystems

Spirit AeroSystems Reports First Quarter 2024 Results

www.spiritaero.com

“The first quarter was characterized by several events, one of great significance was the partnership with Boeing to make improvements to the safety and quality of our production systems. We collaborated with Boeing to align 737 fuselage product inspection as close as possible to where the work is performed at our factories in Wichita. This is a significant accomplishment that we believe will enhance quality, eliminate rework, and benefit the entire production system between our companies,” said Pat Shanahan, President and Chief Executive Officer, Spirit AeroSystems.

That's a questionable statement given the fallout following AS 1282.

As of March 1, 2024, Spirit and Boeing have performed joint product verification to ensure conformity prior to transportation to Renton final assembly. Consequently, Spirit’s deliveries to Boeing have been delayed and undelivered units have been built-up in Wichita, Kansas, resulting in higher levels of inventory and contract assets and lower operational cash flows.

During late 2023, the Company prepared for expected increases in production rates which have now been delayed. Spirit’s current Boeing 737 production rate is approximately 31 aircraft per month, which the Company anticipates remaining at through the end of this year. Spirit’s ability to align factory costs, which include both internal and supply chain related spending, and to react to sudden changes in production rates will have a material impact on results of operations and cash flows throughout 2024.

Doesn't mention Everret though, which is surprising given that the 777 is produced there.

Spirit’s revenue in the first quarter of 2024 increased from the same period of 2023, primarily due to higher production activities on Commercial programs and higher Defense and Space revenues. Overall deliveries decreased to 307 shipsets during the first quarter of 2024 compared to 346 shipsets in the same period of 2023.

Spirit’s backlog at the end of the first quarter of 2024 was approximately $49 billion, which includes work packages on all commercial platforms in the Airbus and Boeing backlog.

Very surprising given the current circumstances from the FAA's safety audit and whistleblowers.

Operating loss for the first quarter of 2024 was higher compared to the same period of 2023, primarily driven by the higher unfavorable changes in estimates during the current period. Additionally, the first quarter of 2024 was negatively impacted by Boeing’s schedule changes in March and the investigation and quality audits resulting from the Alaska Airlines incident.

Total change in estimates in the first quarter of 2024 included net forward losses of $495.4 million and unfavorable cumulative catch-up adjustments for periods prior to the first quarter of $39.2 million. Net forward losses were primarily driven by the Airbus A350 and A220 programs of $280.8 million and $167.0 million, respectively, due to the inability to reach a conclusion to pricing negotiations with Airbus, additional firm orders, and production cost growth. The forward losses on the Airbus A350 and A220 programs include net incremental losses for anticipated performance obligations beyond 2026 of $168.3 million in total. Additionally, the Boeing 787 program drove $34.1 million of forward losses, due to supply chain and labor cost growth. Unfavorable cumulative catch-up adjustments were primarily related to the Boeing 737 program, as discussed above. Excess capacity costs during the first quarter of 2024 were $26.1 million. In comparison, during the first quarter of 2023, Spirit recognized $110.0 million of net forward loss charges, $11.9 million of unfavorable cumulative catch-up adjustments and excess capacity costs of $43.3 million.

First quarter 2024 EPS was $(5.31) compared to $(2.68) in the same period of 2023. First quarter 2024 adjusted EPS* was $(3.93), which excludes the incremental deferred tax asset valuation allowance. In the same period of 2023, adjusted EPS* was $(1.69), which excluded the incremental deferred tax asset valuation allowance and pension termination charges. (Table 1)

Not surprising given that Spirit’s reputation has been ruined this year.

Spirit will not be providing guidance until there is further clarity on the acquisition discussions with Boeing, 737 MAX delivery and production timing, as well as ongoing commercial negotiations with Airbus.

Makes sense, any missed targets would give a worse look for Spirit.

Commercial segment revenue in the first quarter of 2024 increased from the same period of the prior year, primarily due to higher production across most programs. Operating margin for the first quarter of 2024 decreased compared to the same period of 2023, primarily driven by higher changes in estimates as well as the results of the changes implemented on the product verification process in March. In the first quarter of 2024, change in estimates for the segment included $493.8 million of net forward losses and $38.9 million of unfavorable cumulative catch-up adjustments. Additionally, during the first quarter of 2024, the Commercial segment included excess capacity costs of $24.9 million. In comparison, during the first quarter of 2023, the segment recognized $109.9 million of net forward losses, $11.0 million of unfavorable cumulative catch-up adjustments and excess capacity costs of $40.9 million.

Increased revenue is again, a surprise.

Defense & Space segment revenue in the first quarter of 2024 increased from the same period of the prior year, primarily due to higher activity on development and classified programs as well as the Sikorsky CH-53K and FLRAA programs in the current period. Operating margin for the first quarter of 2024 increased compared to the same period of 2023, primarily due to higher activities on classified programs.

Spirit is working on several defence projects with companies such as Bell and is a supplier of Northrop Grumman.

Aftermarket segment revenue in the first quarter of 2024 increased slightly from the same period of the prior year, primarily due to higher spare part sales, partially offset by decreased maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activity. Operating margin in the first quarter of 2024 decreased compared to the first quarter of 2023, primarily due to lower MRO activity during the current period.

Not surprising given the growth in the industry.

Spirit's delivery breakdown:

737 Q1 2024 deliveries: 44, down from 95 in Q1 2023. 767 deliveries in Q1 2024: 5, down from 8 in Q1 2023. 777 deliveries in Q1 2024: 8, up from 7 in Q1 2023. 787 deliveries in Q1 2024: 13, up from 6 in Q1 2023.
Total for Boeing in Q1 2024: 70, down from 116 in Q1 2023. A220 deliveries in Q1 2024: 15, up fom 13 in Q1 2023. A320 family deliveries in Q1 2024: 153, up from 142 in Q1 2023. A330 deliveries in Q1 2024: 7, down from 9 in Q1 2023. A350 deliveries in Q1 2024: 16, up from 12 in Q1 2023. Total for Airbus in Q1 2024: 191, up from 176. Business/regional jet deliveries in Q1 2024: 46, down from 54 in Q1 2023. Total deliveries in Q1 2024: 307, down from 346 in Q1 2024.

The first-ever crewed launch of Boeing's Starliner capsule has been delayed an additional week, thanks to a "buzzing" valve on its rocket ride. That launch, which will kick off a mission known as Crew Flight Test (CFT), was originally supposed to take place Monday night (May 6) from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station atop a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket.

The launch team called that attempt off about two hours before the planned liftoff, however, after noticing that an oxygen relief valve in the Atlas V's Centaur upper stage was "buzzing" — opening and closing very rapidly. ULA, Boeing and NASA initially pushed CFT's liftoff back to no earlier than Friday (May 10), but that's no longer the plan.That launch, which will kick off a mission known as Crew Flight Test (CFT), was originally supposed to take place Monday night (May 6) from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station atop a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket.

The launch team called that attempt off about two hours before the planned liftoff, however, after noticing that an oxygen relief valve in the Atlas V's Centaur upper stage was "buzzing" — opening and closing very rapidly. ULA, Boeing and NASA initially pushed CFT's liftoff back to no earlier than Friday (May 10), but that's no longer the plan.ULA has decided to replace the valve, which will require rolling the Starliner-Atlas V stack off the launch pad and back to an assembly building. As as result, CFT's launch is now targeted for no earlier than May 17, NASA announced in an update on Tuesday (May 7).

A May 17 launch, should it go forward, would occur at 6:16 p.m. EDT (2216 GMT). Whenever Starliner flies, you can watch the action live here at Space.com.

1st astronaut launch of Boeing's Starliner delayed to May 17 to replace 'buzzing' rocket valve

Starliner and its Atlas V rocket ride will roll off the launch pad on Wednesday (May 8).

www.space.com

Given that the Starliner was meant to have a crewed flight years ago, a couple weeks won't make the program look too much worse.

 

[najaB]

Boeing needs to use these five years wisely to develop a 767F replacement (say 787F) or risk Airbus winning over market share with a potential A330neo Freighter.

Thing is, an A330 is simultaneously too little and too much airplane to replace a 767. There was a thread about this a while back on another forum and the problem with the A330 in the freighter market is that its legs are too long (since it's optimised to be efficient over long routes), and it's less efficient a lifter as a 767 over shorter distances.