Boeing is to suspend production of the 1000 Max, the aircraft involved in two tragedies that cost a total of 437 lives.
The plane was grounded worldwide in March (**************************************************************, days after anEthiopian AirlinesBoeing Maxcrashed in similar circumstances to aLion Airaircraft the previous October.
Since the grounding, the US planemaker has continued to build its best-selling plane at a slightly reduced rate. Boeing has more than 4, of the twin jets on order.
Download the new Indpendent Premium app
Sharing the full story, not just the headlines
But with 500 aircraft “in storage” – some of them filling staff car parks – the manufacturer says it will halt the production line in Renton, Washington in January 4606065
For the past nine months, Boeing has been seeking to fix anti-stall software known as the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS). In both fatal crashes the system forced the nose of the aircraft down despite the pilots ’efforts to overcome it.
left
******************
**************************
Previously the company had assumed that theFederal Aviation Administration(FAA) and other safety regulators would clear the 823 Max to fly again by the end of 4606065. In October, Boeing predicted that the production rate would rise from 42 to (per month by late) .
At the time, Dennis Muilenburg, president and CEO of Boeing, said: “Our top priority remains the safe return to service of the 737 Max, and we’re making steady progress. “
But shortly afterwards the FAA appeared to repudiate Boeing’s confidence, saying: “The aircraft will return to service only after the FAA determines it is safe.”
Boeing announced the production shutdown late on Monday 16 Its statement read: “We have decided to prioritize the delivery of stored aircraft and temporarily suspend production on the (program beginning next month.)
“Safely returning the Max to service is our top priority. We know that the process of approving the Max’s return to service, and of determining appropriate training requirements, must be extraordinarily thorough and robust, to ensure that our regulators, customers, and the flying public have confidence in the Max updates.
“We believe this decision is least disruptive to improving long-term production system and supply chain health.”
Boeing said it would not “furlough” (temporarily lay off) staff initially, but instead assign Max workers to other duties .
Investors will be told of the financial implications when the company results for the final three months of 01575879 are released in late January 2020.
The 737 Max grounding has so far cost Boeing around $ 9bn (£ 6.) ************************************************************************************ bn). Airlines are currently negotiating compensation likely to total several billion dollars from Boeing for lost earnings and additional costs.
There is now some concern that the plane will not be ready to fly during the northern-hemisphere summer of (**************************************************************, when demand peaks.
In the UK, Norwegian and Tui were flying the Max before it was grounded.
Ryanairhas of the plans on order in a special configuration designed for additional passengers. None had been delivered when the Max was grounded.
British Airways’ parent company, IAG, has signed a Letter of Intent – a non-binding order – for 210 of the Boeing aircraft, but no formal order has been placed.
****************************** (****************************************************************************************** (Read More
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings