The Hidden Story Behind Boeing and the 737 MAX

Ed Pierson, former senior manager at Boeing's 737 Factory in Renton, speaks out on what went wrong with the 737 MAX.

Boeing's 737 MAX faced significant issues from its inception. Launched to much fanfare in 2016, the aircraft soon became embroiled in controversy following two fatal crashes within 18 months of its first delivery. Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed due to issues with the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), which was designed to prevent stalls but relied on a single sensor. The crashes, killing 346 people, led to the worldwide grounding of the 737 MAX for 20 months.

Ed Pierson, highlights systemic issues within the company, including inadequate quality control and pressured work environments. The company's focus post the 1997 merger with McDonnell Douglas, and leadership becoming disconnected from the manufacturing floor.

Pierson suggests overhauling Boeing's leadership, admitting failures, and implementing stricter quality control measures. Despite efforts to improve, including new leadership and pledges to enhance safety protocols, the company faces the challenge of addressing deep-rooted issues and regaining public and industry trust in its aircraft engineering and safety standards.

00:00 - The release of the Boeing 737 Max 8
01:16 - Crashes of the Boeing 737 Max 8
02:00 - The MCAS system
03:04 - FAA Grounding of Boeing 737 Max 8
03:45 - Ed Pierson introduction
04:30 - History of Boeing 737
05:20 - The competition, the Airbus A320 Neo
06:00 - Production issues for the Boeing 737 Max 8
07:00 - Alaska Airlines Blowout
08:20 - The missing reports of the Boeing 737 Max's
09:00 - History of the Boeing company and merger with McDonald Douglas
13:03 - What the FAA missed with the Boeing 737 Max
13:40 - How reporting work with the FAA
14:40 - How many faulty Boeing 737 Max planes are out there?
15:00 - How can all of these faults appear in one aircraft?
16:50 - How can Boeing fix the problems
17:58 - Boeing CEO Statement

[Interestingengineeringofficial]

What do you think? Would you get into a Boeing plane after watching this?

[BrilliantDesignOnline]

Appears to be a pretty accurate telling of the situation.

[duner]

Who's paying Southwest to suppress the failure reports???

[graemetd]

This plane never been allowed to enter production. The whole reason Boeing pushed it thru was about profit, before safety.

[norrinradd]

What sound does the 737 NOT MAKE when it hits the ground?

BBOOEEIINNGG

[TheSateef]

i always check the plane now before booking a ticket, if its Boeing, well, you know

[nuddtxn]

As a chemical engineer we would never make a safety critical system rely on one sensor. Worse than that no aircraft should rely on an electronic system to be safe.

[louieuow]

MCAS acronym was changes to Major Crash Assistance System

[simonchan]

Mr. Ed Pierson points out many things that existing in Boeing's culture, yet I am not as optimistic as he does, the company culture is not to be built by one or two generations, so as to change it back to normal. Whoever the new CEO afterwards the Boeing culture will remain the same unless the whole board of directors to be changed as well. Another thing is, when FAA allowed Boeing to inspect their own quality before issuing the certificate, no one can stop another deadly corruption to be happened again, 737? 777? 787?

Let Boeing concentrates in their military business. I am saying goodbye to them. 👋🏽

[darronfenton]

The FAA did not ground the 737. President Donald Trump grounded the aircraft by Presidential Decree. The FAA dropped the ball on this one.

[marcinwolcendorf]

How did it all happen? I don't know, but let's count some beans, shall we?

[slagarcrue]

Boeing should have faced serious legally transactions decades ago. What do you expect from the people that absorbed the assets of the now sued in to oblivion air Douglass there unacceptable accidents that killed hundreds of people back in 1972 over France when the cargo door failed to stay attached . Thank god the Windsor Canada cargo door blow out prior in 1970 resulted in a close call but successful last minute non fatal touch down were no one died.

[janalt]

Uploaded 30 min ago, so 2 days Till this guy stumbles out of a window💀

[dennissalisbury]

The Airline Industry, an Industrial Science, completes 40 million flights worldwide safely each year without killing anyone.

[slagarcrue]

Boeing should have faced serious legally transactions decades ago. What do you expect from the people that absorbed the assets of the now sued in to oblivion air Douglass there unacceptable accidents that killed hundreds of people back in 1972 over France when the cargo door failed to stay attached . Thank god the Windsor Canada cargo door blow out prior in 1970 resulted in a close call but successful last minute non fatal touch down were no one died. The cargo door flaw that was technically a known about issue by the mc Douglass company as far back at least in 1964 before the planes were even finished and used the first time middle of 1970. 6 years in advance Douglass had to fix the issue under the radar before Windsor happen and they failed to do so epically.

[jmwSeattle]

Boeing’s nick name in the Seattle area as far back as I can remember has been “The Lazy B”