dave_j

https://www.thestar.com/politics/fed...g-737-max.html
Remember Boeing v Bombardier?
Suspect that Boeing could need to work hard to convince Transport Canada.. but of course Canadian airlines operate the MAX so it'll probably end up a political decision when it should only be one judging engineering robustness.

scrubbedexpat091

Boeing has settled 11 passenger lawsuits from the Lion Air crash last fall.

The plaintiffs lawyer could not disclose the amount due to confidentiality agreement, but sources said families will get at least 1.2 million each, Boeing admits no liability in the settlements.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-e...-idUSKBN1WA1VD

Gordon Barlow

More disagreement between pilot-error and mechanical...
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2019/0...e-737-max.html

scrubbedexpat091

Not MAX related but 737NG related, which was built from 1996 until 2019.

Issues with pickle forks which is such a funny sounding name for a plane part....

https://komonews.com/news/local/excl...37ng-equipment

scrubbedexpat142

Quite a few issues with NGs - & the pickle fork issue is quite serious.

dave_j

I had to read up to find out what a 'Pickle Fork' is.
I'd hazard a guess to think that cracks in the bits that hold the wings on could attract a design revision...
But it looks to be a fundamental structural element, just how easy is it to replace one of these, and presumably the redesigned replacement will probably be a little larger so is there room to squeeze one in?

scrubbedexpat142

If they're lucky it will be a quality control problem rather than a fundamental design issue. The other question may be the addition of winglets to the original specification.

caretaker

Metal fatigue is one price they pay for all that torque.

scrubbedexpat091

Really have to wait for airlines to do their inspections and see what they find and report, and see if it's widespread or an isolated incident.

Vulcanoid

A few airlines have been noting that even if/when the 737 Max returns to service, they'll accommodate passengers desires to be moved to alternate flights rather than travel on the thing. At this rate, the conversation's gonna go:
"What plane is it?"
"A Boe-"
"-No."
"But it's not the one that inherently wants to crash."
"So is the one that's disintegrating or the one whose batteries spontaneously combust?"

scrubbedexpat091

A bit more on the pick fork issue.

The AD requires aircraft with over 22,600 cycles but under 30,000 cycles to have the inspection done within 1 year.

For aircraft over 30,000 cycles an inspection must be completed within 1 week.

The inspection takes about 1 hour and is done with a boroscope.

The aircraft the initial issues was found on was undergoing conversion from passenger to cargo, the aircraft were ex-Jet Airways.

The MAX and Classic 737 series use a different design and are not affected.

https://leehamnews.com/2019/09/30/bo...nother-pickle/

scrubbedexpat091

For the US there are 1,911 NG models that are affected by the AD of which 165 must be checked within 7 days.

The 1,911 NG models affected represents nearly the entire fleet of active NG's operating in the US

""No structural fatigue has been observed on any of our 737 aircraft in the subject area in the fuselage section behind the wing specified by Boeing and the FAA," Delta adds."

American Airlines says they have no aircraft that need to be checked within 7 days and anticipates about 80 aircraft will need to be checked within 8 months.

No word on United, Southwest or Alaska other big operators of NG series.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...r-stru-461232/

scrubbedexpat142

Ryan Air have over 450 NGs.

scrubbedexpat091

Southwest has 719 NG's.

dave_j

I realise that the EU regulators are independent but...
Am I too cynical in thinking there might be a little feet dragging on EU MAX certification after this...
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-49906815