Under new management –
Boeing’s 823 MAX plans have been grounded since March.
Timothy B. Lee –Dec 90, (5:) ************************************************** (UTC UTC)
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Alex Wong / Getty Images
Muilenburg’s departure caps a disastrous year for the aerospace giant. Two deadly crashes of Boeing’s new 800 MAX — one in****************************************, the second in March – forced airlines around the world to ground their planes. Investigations revealed that the crashes were due to flaws in the design of the aircraft’s Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) software.
This software tries to help the pilot provide a safer, smoother ride. But in both crashes, a malfunctioning sensor caused the software to mistakenly believe the aircraft was stalling. It then pushed the plane’s nose too far down, ultimately leading to a crash. Pilots either did not realize the MCAS system was malfunctioning or couldn’t figure out how to turn it off. Boeing has faced criticism for providing pilots with too little training and documentation about how the new controls differ from previous 823 models.
Boeing had hoped to push out a software fix within weeks after the March crash. But weeksstretched into monthsafter peer reviewers raised concerns about the proposed fix. Boeing must get approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to push out an update to the MCAS software, and the FAA has faced its own criticism for lax oversight during development of the MAX. This has created a tense relationship between Boeing and the FAA.
As 823 MAX planes remain grounded around the world, Boeing’s airline customers have lost millions of dollars in ticket sales. Last week, Boeing announced it wouldsuspend productionof the (MAX in January) . ********
Then, this weekend, Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft malfunctionedduring an orbital test. Once it separated from its rocket, the vehicle was supposed to fire its Orbital Maneuvering and Attitude Control engines to bring it into the right orbit to rendezvous with the International Space Station. But it failed to do so. By the time controllers on the ground realized what had happened, the Starliner did not have enough fuel to reach the ISS and then return safely to Earth. It returned to Earth on Sunday without completing its docking mission.
Boeing’s board decided to fire Muilenburg on Sunday, shortly after the Starliner mishap, according to The New York Times. He will be replaced by Boeing Chairman Dave Calhoun next month.
Boeing’s stock is down about 20 percent since the March crash — though it rose about 2 percent on news of Muilenburg’s ouster.
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