July 25, 2019 | Kendall Creighton Nobody wants to fly on the disastrous 737 MAX A FlyersRights.org survey shows a solid no-confidence vote against flying an aircraft that flew over 300 passengers into the ground. Over 73% of our respondents said they won’t fly on a 737 MAX in the future. https://ui.constantcontact.com/so/rnav/survey/0bea08bf-fdaa-47cf-9452-130e90ac925d/report/overall “It is not just a matter of a software fix,” said one commentator. “There are basic design flaws with the aircraft that cause the inherent instability that lead to a new autopilot design. Until the aircraft is redesigned and certified with its new engines and engine location, it will never be safe. Nearly any other aircraft would have gone through a complete flight test scenario and certification process.” As the poll confirms, travelers are now more than ever wary about climbing aboard a 737 MAX, and understandably so. “I don’t believe it will ever be safe for me or my clients who travel by air,” said one travel agent to FlyerRights.org. The survey, which includes over 1,175 recent flyers, doesn’t look good for Boeing, which now has around 350 of the 737 MAX aircraft collecting dust while officials sort out how to proceed. Beware of a Name Change Cover-up: Boeing CFO Greg Smith said they have a plan to deal with the complete loss of public trust in the 737 MAX line by changing the “brand.” Boeing executives are considering rebranding the 737 MAX “so people are willing to fly in it again.” However, is this a real show of integrity? Build a faulty plane, get caught at it, then change the name and pretend it’s safe. Why would anyone trust Boeing at this point? As one commentator pointed out, we took Pintos off the road! Change is in the Air Last month, FlyersRights.org filed a second petition with the Department of Transportation to limit change fees on international flights. Passengers are helpless when it comes to these exorbitant fees that can cost up to $500 or more. Domestic consolidation and international alliances in the airline industry have combined to give passengers fewer options when travelling. Back in 1978, when Congress deregulated airline prices, routes, and schedules, Congress preserved the DOT’s responsibility to ensure that international prices and fees remained “reasonable.” This little-known provision of U.S. law means that the FAA should strike down any change fees that are unreasonable and have no relation to cost. As airline profits soar, the industry continues to increase change fees by hundreds of dollars while publicly declaring that these fees are a major profit generator. Paul Hudson, President of FlyersRights.org, said, “The DOT has demonstrated a tremendous ability to allow the airlines and airplane manufacturers to dictate enforcement policies. The DOT has ignored the law by failing to guarantee that international change fees are reasonable and related to cost. At a time when flights are routinely filled to capacity, airlines extort passengers into paying hundreds of dollars to change flights so that the airline can go back and sell the same ticket, usually at a higher price. The airlines reach into passengers’ checkbooks because the DOT refuses to follow the law.” See the PDF: https://flyersrights.org/courtlegal/opening-brief-for-reasonable-change-fees-litigation/ FlyersRights’ Partner, Rep. Steve Cohen (TN-09) Fighting for SEAT SPACE Congressman Cohen questions witnesses about flight safety and the SEAT Act 7.17.19 FlyersRights.org has taken the FAA to federal court over the denial of its 2015 seat size rulemaking petition. Our seat litigation has increased scrutiny on the FAA’s relationship with Boeing and other airplane manufacturers, leading to Congressional mandates to establish seat size standards and to review certification procedures, and has prompted a DOT Inspector General Investigation into the FAA’s oversight of emergency evacuation testing and certification. Paul Hudson, a member of the FAA Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee since 1993, noted, “The DOT and FAA keep proving, time and time again, that they will allow Boeing and the airlines to dictate policy both in the safety and consumer protection realms. From ignoring initial concerns over the Boeing 737, MAX 8 and 787 Dreamliner, to rubber stamping manufacturers’ emergency evacuation testing, to decreasing enforcement of consumer protections to historical lows, the DOT has surrendered its duty to ensure safe air travel and reasonable protections for passengers.”