The departing US transportation secretary, Pete Buttigieg, thinks Boeing should take more action to raise the reputation of its safety culture. Ever since the world was in shock following a door plug blowing out on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 airplane during takeoff from Portland, Oregon, early last year, Boeing has been under great investigation.
“There is much more to do”
Following the door plug story, which revealed four important bolts were missing on the recently delivered Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 aircraft, tough monitoring at Boeing will never stop. This resulted in temporary grounding of 170 MAX 9 planes and capping of MAX plane production to 38 per month for assembly by Mike Whitaker, the Federal Aviation Administrator.
“I think the culture change at Boeing is something that is a real work in progress and the only way to fully assess it will be to see they can consistently improve results.”
Following the event, the Washington-based aircraft manufacturer revealed various safety issues, which finally caused Dave Calhoun, the then Chief Executive Officer, to resign. With two deadly disasters of its MAX model, which claimed 346 lives, Boeing has not had the best run in the past ten years.
Boeing hopes to turn its fortunes around
Noting that “(Boeing) is at a low,” Boeing’s new Chief Executive Officer, Kelly Ortberg, has not held back from the difficulties the aircraft company is confronting. Working with current and past Boeing leaders, suppliers, and regulators, the 108-year-old planemaker will help the firm turn its fortunes and history around.
Many at Boeing prioritize safety first, and as the Walls Street Journal noted, it must “soak through every layer of the company.” Former Boeing communications chief Morrie Goodman pointed out that motivating staff members to document all safety issues will help to lessen the need for whistleblowers.”
On behalf of the FAA, Whittaker had pushed Boeing for being too “hands-off” when implementing a safety and quality improvement plan and underlined that Boeing might not modify its slack safety culture for up to five years.
Boeing has not commented on several phases; nevertheless, it recently said that it has started new quality audits, greatly lowering the 737 fuselage assembly problems from supplier Spirit AeroSystems.
Boeing executives have also been urged to speak publicly about their own mistakes and to ensure that management do not dogpile when problems occur. This has been worsened by allegations that Boeing has a strong blaming culture and would rather’sit at the water cooler than talk about the tasks at hand.’
Forgetting production deadlines for now
Boeing’s focus on timelines and finally getting jets out the door has resulted in a number of systemic quality control failures. Executives have struggled to stop the practice of moving planes too quickly to meet quotas.
Boeing’s new CEO was astonished to learn that repairs are now being performed on already completed jets on the production line, delaying the manufacture of new airframes. Ortberg has highlighted that this should not be happening and that they should do it correctly the first time.
FAQ
What did Pete Buttigieg say about Boeing’s 737 MAX safety?
Pete Buttigieg, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, commented that Boeing has ‘much more to do’ regarding the safety of the 737 MAX, stressing the need for continued improvements and safety measures.
Why did Pete Buttigieg make a statement about Boeing’s 737 MAX?
Buttigieg’s statement came after ongoing scrutiny of the 737 MAX, which was involved in two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, leading to its grounding worldwide until safety modifications were made.
Is the Boeing 737 MAX safe to fly now?
The Boeing 737 MAX was cleared to return to service in 2020 after a series of modifications and thorough safety reviews, but it remains under close scrutiny by regulatory authorities and public safety advocates.
What improvements has Boeing made to the 737 MAX?
Boeing has made several software and hardware changes to the 737 MAX, including updates to the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), improved pilot training, and enhanced safety procedures.
What actions are being taken to address ongoing concerns about the 737 MAX?
Boeing continues to collaborate with regulatory authorities, including the FAA, to ensure the 737 MAX meets safety standards, and is expected to implement further safety measures as recommended by investigators and safety experts.
