In 2017, Boeing released their first 737-8 MAX to Malindo Air in Malaysia. The MAX airplanes are equipped with a feature known as MCAS or Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System. I don't know if anyone will be able to understand just what that is if I explained it, but here goes.
When Boeing built their new version of the 737, they used a larger engine. Because of this, they had to position the engines closer to the front of the plane. This makes the plane a bit heavier in the front and when the plane is airborne, it may cause the plane to tip the nose down or what we call change the angle of attack.
With the nose pointed down, the plane is likely to gain speed and could go into what is known as over-speed. To avert this from happening, the MCAS system would automatically engage itself and change the angle of attack of the plane by pointing the nose up. At the time, the pilot had no idea this was happening because Boeing failed to install a warning light showing that the MCAS was activated. With the MCAS system being activated, the plane would slow.
This happened during two different accidents; one in 2018 and one in 2019. I am unsure of the exact number, but I believe somewhere around 300-400 lives were lost between the two accidents. This caused many of the airlines that had now purchased these planes and were (and still is) in their possession to lose confidence in the plane. After the second crash, every country outlawed the use of the plane until Boeing could fix the issue, which they claimed was a software problem. Boeing was very slow to admit that they made a terrible miscalculation of the MCAS system's ability to function properly.
Additionally, because of the problems with the Boeing 737 MAX airplanes, the CEO was fired and I think so was the Chairman of the Board. Boeing kept setting a new date for when the plane would fly again, but it never has. So far, Boeing has spent billions to settle lawsuits and damages and is now looking at possibly having to buy back the aircraft that they have sold. If that should happen. it could spell the end of Boeing. I think that William Bowing is probably rolling over in his grave.
If Boeing goes under, that would leave only Airbus as the largest and only manufacturer of large, wide body aircraft in the world. When I was flying for United, I flew only Boeing planes. I knew a lot of pilots who flew Airbus and had previously flown Boeing and their opinion was that most preferred the Airbus. No matter what happens, flying is still the safest mode of transportation.
When Boeing built their new version of the 737, they used a larger engine. Because of this, they had to position the engines closer to the front of the plane. This makes the plane a bit heavier in the front and when the plane is airborne, it may cause the plane to tip the nose down or what we call change the angle of attack.
With the nose pointed down, the plane is likely to gain speed and could go into what is known as over-speed. To avert this from happening, the MCAS system would automatically engage itself and change the angle of attack of the plane by pointing the nose up. At the time, the pilot had no idea this was happening because Boeing failed to install a warning light showing that the MCAS was activated. With the MCAS system being activated, the plane would slow.
This happened during two different accidents; one in 2018 and one in 2019. I am unsure of the exact number, but I believe somewhere around 300-400 lives were lost between the two accidents. This caused many of the airlines that had now purchased these planes and were (and still is) in their possession to lose confidence in the plane. After the second crash, every country outlawed the use of the plane until Boeing could fix the issue, which they claimed was a software problem. Boeing was very slow to admit that they made a terrible miscalculation of the MCAS system's ability to function properly.
Additionally, because of the problems with the Boeing 737 MAX airplanes, the CEO was fired and I think so was the Chairman of the Board. Boeing kept setting a new date for when the plane would fly again, but it never has. So far, Boeing has spent billions to settle lawsuits and damages and is now looking at possibly having to buy back the aircraft that they have sold. If that should happen. it could spell the end of Boeing. I think that William Bowing is probably rolling over in his grave.
If Boeing goes under, that would leave only Airbus as the largest and only manufacturer of large, wide body aircraft in the world. When I was flying for United, I flew only Boeing planes. I knew a lot of pilots who flew Airbus and had previously flown Boeing and their opinion was that most preferred the Airbus. No matter what happens, flying is still the safest mode of transportation.