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Boeing made the 737 NG until 2019. It also allegedly had issues with the contractor Ducommun making the airframe, including "hammering alignment holes into plac

by _cenw 3y ago

Boeing made the 737 NG until 2019. It also allegedly had issues with the contractor Ducommun making the airframe, including "hammering alignment holes into place". But it wasn't nearly as problematic of a plane. The Max is a desperate attempt to compete with the A320 neo ("new engine option"). It is the aviation efficiency gain equivalent of a die shrink, except these engines get bigger, and while Airbus had space to spare under the wing of the A320 ceo, the 737 NG did not. So they angled it, changing flight characteristics. Thus, MCAS, because the entire point of keeping the 737 - a 55 year old design - alive is pilots not having to do an entirely new type certificate. Because given availability (not a given, the only reason Ryanair went with Boeing) and staff type certificates not playing a role, Airbus is the clear winner on every metric.

codeflo 3y ago
> pilots not having to do an entirely new type certificate And consequently, their intention seems to be to bend the rules about the validity of the existing certifications to the max (no pun intended). At what point can an agency rule that Boeing no longer follows the spirit of the pilot certification rules?
- _cenw 3y ago
  MCAS absolutely should have triggered a recertification. It's essentially meant to make the Max feel like the NG by slightly pulling down to compensate for the angled engines. And we all know how that ended when the plane's angle of attack sensor failed, the backup wasn't being checked, and the pilots didn't know their plane suddenly had an extra system pulling on the trim. Even with the autopilot off. This is normal and expected on Airbus craft and later Boeing planes like the Dreamliner, but not the 737. Oh, and the indicator for your AOA sensors disagreeing? Used to be a physical part of the cockpit, and was moved to an optional addon in the Max. But Boeing then forgot to put the indicator in the glass cockpit. Presumably because their development aircraft all had the option. None of the accident airlines had the option.
- marcosdumay 3y ago
  Brazil has decided that since the first day. And honestly, it didn't create any huge roadblocks for Boeing.
ImaCake 3y ago
> So they angled it, changing flight characteristics. Thus, MCAS, because the entire point of keeping the 737 - a 55 year old design - alive is pilots not having to do an entirely new type certificate. Holy hell, anyone who does computer modelling can tell you how insane this is. The model, or instrument, will never be able to cover the entire domain space of the real world conditions. You can’t do this an expect nothing to go wrong.

by _cenw 3y ago

codeflo 3y ago

> pilots not having to do an entirely new type certificate And consequently, their intention seems to be to bend the rules about the validity of the existing certifications to the max (no pun intended). At what point can an agency rule that Boeing no longer follows the spirit of the pilot certification rules?

_cenw 3y ago
MCAS absolutely should have triggered a recertification. It's essentially meant to make the Max feel like the NG by slightly pulling down to compensate for the angled engines. And we all know how that ended when the plane's angle of attack sensor failed, the backup wasn't being checked, and the pilots didn't know their plane suddenly had an extra system pulling on the trim. Even with the autopilot off. This is normal and expected on Airbus craft and later Boeing planes like the Dreamliner, but not the 737. Oh, and the indicator for your AOA sensors disagreeing? Used to be a physical part of the cockpit, and was moved to an optional addon in the Max. But Boeing then forgot to put the indicator in the glass cockpit. Presumably because their development aircraft all had the option. None of the accident airlines had the option.
marcosdumay 3y ago
Brazil has decided that since the first day. And honestly, it didn't create any huge roadblocks for Boeing.

ImaCake 3y ago

> So they angled it, changing flight characteristics. Thus, MCAS, because the entire point of keeping the 737 - a 55 year old design - alive is pilots not having to do an entirely new type certificate. Holy hell, anyone who does computer modelling can tell you how insane this is. The model, or instrument, will never be able to cover the entire domain space of the real world conditions. You can’t do this an expect nothing to go wrong.