How The Airbus A320neo Forced Boeing's 737 MAX

Boeing was compelled to introduce a new version of the 737 series, known as the 737 MAX, amid heightened competition from Airbus and their emerging A320neo, but during this process, they cut corners and looked to reduce costs wherever possible, which came back to bite. This is the story of Boeing and the 737 MAX, including its birth and the period where the plane maker analysed the best course of action.

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#aviation #news #flight #aircraft #avgeek #airplane #airlines #airport #planespotting #airbus #boeing

[michaelosgood]

I remember when Boeing left Airbus standing with the 787 launch. Airbus quickly realized they needed more than simply a re engined A330. So they went to the drawing board & created the A350, with which theyve made up significant ground. Ive said all along, Boeing needed a clean sheet narrowbody, capable of taking both PW & CFM engines

[hanj]

Never thought I’d hear the words “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” from DJ

[tong.clement]

2 weeks later and we are here again - safety issues also taken to the "Max" (literally)

[JKB-]

I think youre getting this wrong. The fuselage of the 737 in itself is not dated. It’s about the design of the 737.
The fuselage is using upgraded composites from Spirit Aerosystems and is way lighter than the original.
Yes the design is old and dated, but the aircraft in itself is very much up to date material vise. If it was old it wouldnt be competetive.

Quoting Micheal O’leary: We would gladly have bought Airbus planes if they could match the 737s cost pr seat.

[Dan.d]

I think the Boeing 737-MAX has come a long way to become a very popular airplane right now. It is selling and it's been doing great for many airlines as of late. The A320-321-NEO continue to have their engine troubles and causing delays with some airlines.

[Paolo-swys]

The 737 production life should’ve ended with the NG… period full stop!

Boeing’s executives (accountants telling engineers what to do) should’ve see ALL of this coming decades ago…

I’m fact I would argue in the early 2000’s (02-03) they could’ve gone with (started the process) of building shortened variant of the 757 to replace the aging short stanced 737 but chose to discontinue the 57 all together… It really was the beginning of the end of Boeing’s dominance as the world’s #1 plane maker.

[jt-ebsp]

they messed up, but the problem was resolved and this very reliable and functional plane is in the again. Safety.

[neilpickup]

The A320 brief was to produce a 'better 737' and they succeeded beyond expectations.

Unfortunately, Boeing, in their arrogance, took far too long to accept just how much of a threat the A320 would become, and they have been playing catch-up ever since.

The fanboys will never agree and produce statistics as to why their favourite is more efficient.

In reality, they are so closely matched that it is often other factors making the business case.

The problem with the MAX is that it simply isn't good enough.

Boeing's mistake, started with the NG. It has been content to produce something which can stand up against the A320 when they should have taken a leaf out of Airbus' book and produced a 'better A320'. Ideally of a magnitude that only those who deal in alternate realities could even attempt to deny.

The MAX has a potentially fatal flaw. Even if it were possible, it is unlikely that any further development will be viable.

If (when?) Airbus upgrade the A320 again to be that 'better 737', something which, an increasing number of analysts believe could even be achieved by the end of this decade - what do Boeing do?

They could be at least a decade behind, and in a worst case scenario even find themselves in the position of having an order book that is insufficient to sustain production. This could be many years before any replacement can be ready.

Slashing prices may save the MAX in the short-term, but, then where would the money to finance its replacement come from?

There is also the possibility, that Boeing may not be in a position to even start any significant development until the 777x is in production, making the position even more precarious.

It could well be that it is Airbus who saves the 737 by simply being unable to to produce enough aircraft to satisfy demand, leaving the MAX nothing more than a better than nothing alternative.

Not a great position for the once mighty Boeing to find themselves in!

All of this assumes that the only competition to the MAX (at least from the MAX8 and upwards) comes from Airbus. This may not always be the case, and is something Airbus needs to consider, or they could be caught out in the way Boeing were when the A320 was first launched.

[aviator]

The A320neo will always be better than the max because of it being rushed it could be a good plane

[DaveMiller]

I've flown on the MAX numerous times since its recertification. There is nothing wrong with it. I have fight anxiety. It doesn't make me feel any worse than any other plane.

[boatlover]

Along with Southwest wanting a single pilot rating for the entire fleet...

[michaelalexander]

There was disquiet among the Boeing engineers expressed during the development of the MAX. Corners were being cut, and the accountants were overruling the technicians. FAA oversight was limited at best, and arguably, deception was used to get it certified. If they had continued to put engineering excellence ahead of a 'quick buck', Boeing might not be in the mess they're in now.

[DaveMiller]

Boeing had more things they needed to do than they had resources to accomplish them. They had to make a decision. Going with the MAX was probably the best decision, but they should have been better about some things in that program. A clean sheet 737 replacement is needed and they need a replacement for the 757 too. They should do both simultaneously like they did the 757 and 767.

[jamiewalker]

BONZA FEATURED YEAAA BOIII GOO AUSTRALIA 🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘

[xdyork]

Yikes, these videos just keep getting emptier and emptier - now we’re basically getting “Downfall”-lite nonsense, but hey, anything to make content and a buck off of the misery of others who tragically died in the MAX crashes, yeah?

[brikkstonewall]

Not only was Boeing pressured by Airbus but they were also pressured by Southwest Airlines too

[lazarjd]

Without knowing the financial and design restrictions, why not redo the cockpit section, lengthen the landing gear and give it the latest engines and eventually wings? The certification process should allow for large evolutionary changes without having to resort to clean sheet designs and lengthy recertification. Instead, it rewards shortcuts and software workarounds.

[moynul]

1:12 Time and resources such as manpower and money didn't age too well. Ended up spending two to three times more money with whole Max 8 fiasco. They could have done a clean sheet design from the beginning and probably wouldn't have cost that much. As they say, you can cheat the system for nine days but that one day when you'll get caught that's when you payback for the past nine days.

[Tpr_]

Boeing meatriders leap to the comments whenever the 787 or a330 neo to say the same things even if one or the other ain't mentioned. Now I'm ready to hear your excuses on the Max and the 320neo. I'm waiting 👂 otherwise please stop meatriding and appreciate the existence of all the in service aircraft...whether they sell or not is non of any individual's business as their opinion is insignificant. Leave this to airlines and manufacturers

[the_yesnt]

I think that Boeing kind of got away pretty easy following the two crashes, hundreds of people lost their lives because of mistakes make by Boeing, yet they kept making millions