Boeing’s problem was not engineering. It was a loss of corporate empathy

By Gregory Travis – a software architect, aircraft owner and writer. His first article identifying the issues with the 737 Max appeared in the May 2019 issue of IEEE Spectrum magazine. Boeing’s most recent attempt to demonstrate a fix for its troubled MCAS system is another demonstration of just how deep the problem is. Most… Read More

Helicopter Safety Features Avoided By FAA Loopholes – Kobe Bryant Tragedy

Re-post following the Kobe Bryant tragedy. In 2018 we called on the FAA to step up and regulate helicopters after delaying for two years to study the issue. Safety features are avoided by loopholes in regulations, including structural elements, impact-resistant seating, and systems to prevent fuel from igniting on impact. Bryant’s helicopter was a Sikorsky… Read More

FAA “Lowered The Bar” In Approving SWA Hawaii Flights

After months of bad 737 MAX revelations, now this. The U.S. government’s Office of the Special Counsel announced last week they are investigating the Federal Aviation Administration on how it handled the approval process to let Southwest Airlines fly between California and Hawaii, according to the Wall Street Journal. The Special Counsel’s office that found… Read More

FAA Hid Boeing’s Role in 2009 Turkish Airlines Crash

An expert study that was never made public found that Boeing bore significant responsibility for a deadly 737 crash in 2009. The New York Times reviewed evidence that revealed strong parallels with recent 737 Max crashes. In the 2009 crash and in more recent crashes that killed 346 people, an automated command was triggered by… Read More

Boeing Stock Price Finally Catches Up With Reality

MEDIA ALERT Washington, DC- 1/21/2020 4:00 pm Boeing stock will continue to be under great pressure due to serious safety problems with the 737 MAX, the 777X, the 787, and even older 737 jetliners, predicts Paul Hudson, President of the largest airliner passenger organization and long time member of the FAA Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee… Read More

Fuel Dumping B777 – Unsolved Mystery

The mystery of the Fuel Dumping B777 continues. A week later, we’re are still wondering why the pilots of a Boeing 777 didn’t notify air-traffic control before dumping fuel over densely populated Los Angeles. If the pilots thought it was an emergency, then undoubtedly the crew will claim it was in the interest of safety.… Read More

‘Financialization’ of Boeing

History doesn’t repeat, but it does rhyme. Curtiss-Wright was a huge airframe, engine and propeller manufacturer. that made a PILE of money from WW II. After the war, they had about a hundred million dollars in cash in the bank that they didn’t know what to do with. The engineering management of the company was… Read More