EURO Regulators Take the Ball from the FAA in Accessing Boeing

Now that EURO Regulators have taken the Ball from the FAA in Accessing Boeing, the Boeing saga gets worse as EASA completes its broad  scale, independent assessment of Boeing’s 737 MAX family of jet airliners.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has conducted its own broad-scale and independent review of the 737 family’s flight control system focusing on the differences between the 737 MAX that has seen two deadly crashes costing 346 lives, and older 737 models.

Just in case you need to catch up on the Boeing mess, read this insightful article compliments of Bloomberg News.

Based on this Bloomberg article it sounds as if the issue of when the Boeing 737 MAX jet airliners can return to service, has largely been co-opted from Boeing and the FAA – (The Federal Aviation Administration), by EASA – (The European Union Aviation Safety Agency), following their broad scale and independent review of the 737 family’s flight control system and focused on the differences between the 737 MAX that has seen 2 deadly crashes costing 346 lives, and older models.

EASA Says Autopilot Does Not Properly Disengage

EASA’s assessment also turned up the additional issue, that the autopilot doesn’t always properly disengage, which could mean that the pilots would not have time to intervene before the plane begins to stall.

The point here is that regulators globally will most likely rely on the EASA findings rather than those of the FAA, while the FAA deals with the multiple investigations under way re: its handling of the original certification of the 737MAX and the MCAS software.

EASA’s checklist includes issues that have been disclosed such as:

  • The potential difficulty pilots have in turning the jet’s manual trim wheel
  • The unreliability of the Max’s angle of attack sensors
  • Inadequate training procedures
  • A software issue flagged just last week by the FAA pertaining to a lagging microprocessor

But the agency also listed the previously unreported concern mentioned above:

The autopilot failing to disengage in certain emergencies, possibly leading to another potential disaster

These are my concerns and increasing expectations given that EURO Regulators have taken the Ball from the FAA in Accessing Boeing:

  1. The MAX’s return to service continues to be pushed off toward the end of the year or beyond
  2. Production of the MAX is cut from the current low 40’s/month to the teens or single digit
  3. Layoffs are announced of a similar magnitude
  4. Lawsuits continue to be filed by families, pilots, regulators, airlines and others
  5. Continued & expanded criminal investigations are pursued at the Federal level into the original certification/disclosure of the MAX & MCAS and the respective roles of BA Mgmt and the FAA in the process
  6. There will be growing discussion about the criminal liability of Boeing & FAA management
  7. Calls intensify for the resignation of Boeing management
  8. A CEO with crisis management experience will be recruited to replace Dennis Muilenburg
  9. CEO Muilenberg and others will be arrested and charged with fraud and manslaughter
  10. Boeing stock breaks $200.00

Sometimes it takes a long time for the wrong-doing and the wrong-doers to be properly dealt with. When the bad actions become embedded in the DNA of an organization, with the collective minds of many engaged in the obfuscation, avoidance and cover-up, the timeframe can become exacerbated and extended. As with all bad actions, the longer the perpetrator is able to fend off discovery, the deeper the pit they dig for themselves when the light does eventually shine on them.

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~ Kirkus Reviews

A successful guide that uses anecdotes to reveal powerful truths about life.” – Kirkus Reviews

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EURO Regulators Take the Ball from the FAA in Accessing Boeing

EURO Regulators Take the Ball from the FAA in Accessing Boeing