On the evening of January 5, a Boeing 737 MAX 9 passenger plane on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 encountered a thrilling scene during the flight. According to reports, a hatch was lost in mid-air, revealing a huge hole. The ** taken by the passengers is shocking, and the bulkhead of the plane reveals a huge hole, which seems to tell the danger of flight.
According to audio recordings between the flight crew and air traffic controllers, the aircraft was in a state of emergency with loss of pressure a few minutes before the plane successfully landed. This is reminiscent of a series of problems with the Boeing 737 MAX airliner in recent years. The aircraft, which has been hailed as a "deadly airliner", has been plagued by technical and quality control issues.
In 2018 and 2019, Indonesia and Ethiopia suffered two consecutive air crashes, killing a total of 346 people. As a result, the 737MAX was forced to suspend operations in March 2019. And in December of that year, Boeing had to announce the suspension of production of the 737 MAX. The results of the accident investigation of the two air crashes revealed that there were design flaws in the control system of this type of airliner, which is an unavoidable fact.
The accident aircraft was first registered in November 2023 and only 145 flights were recorded, making it brand new by commercial airline standards. However, the frame of this aircraft is designed with modular cutouts to accommodate additional emergency exits for a high-density configuration. Some airlines order aircraft with doors installed, which maximizes the number of seats. Other airlines say they don't need the door and block it to improve productivity and make seating arrangements more flexible.
Guzetti, an aviation safety expert and former head of accident investigation at the Federal Aviation Administration, believes that the plane "has all the characteristics of a manufacturing defect and is a quality problem with Boeing." Schilling, a former member of the National Transportation Safety Board, also said investigators had to figure out how the hatches were blocked and, if they could actually be opened, why they existed.
Some aviation analysts believe that the passenger plane that lost its hatch in this accident was delivered less than three months ago, indicating that the manufacturing and quality control processes of Boeing and airframe manufacturers continue to be unstable. It also raises deep questions about the manufacturing process of the Boeing 737 Max.
In addition, some analysts believe that the investigation of the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737MAX 9 aircraft accident may focus on the problems in the aircraft manufacturing process. The findings of the accident will have a significant impact on Boeing's reputation and future.
The Boeing 737 MAX is Boeing's newest family of single-aisle aircraft, including the -10 and others. **The 737 MAX was announced in 2011 and first flew on January 29, 2016. In November 2017, Boeing delivered the first 737-8 to Air China, and more than 10 domestic airlines now have nearly 100 737-8 aircraft, including Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, etc. The 737 MAX has been a best-selling model with frequent accidents in recent years, and then grounded worldwide for nearly two years before being approved for resumption of flights in the United States in November 2020. However, the Boeing 737 MAX that crashed the previous plane was a 737 MAX 8, and the Alaska Airlines plane that had an accident this time was a 737 MAX 9, and the two are not the same aircraft.
Frequent accidents, quality defects and technical problems have seriously damaged the credibility of the Boeing 737 MAX family aircraft. In the future, Boeing will need to face more than just technical repairs and production process improvements, but will need to rebuild public trust in its aircraft on a global scale. After all, safety is the most basic need and expectation of every passenger.
In today's aviation market, the Boeing 737 MAX family of aircraft accounts for a significant share. However, the recent safety concerns regarding the 737MAX9 model have attracted widespread attention. Chinese airlines do not operate the aircraft, but some have orders with Boeing. For China's aviation industry, this is undoubtedly a situation where opportunities and challenges coexist.
Although Chinese airlines do not operate the 737max9, there are a total of 95 737max8s in China, and all of them have resumed flights as of mid-December 2023. In December 2023, the fleet utilization rate of these aircraft reached 76 hours a day. Clearly, these aircraft are an important asset to China's aviation industry and are essential to support route network expansion and meet transportation demand.
However, the recent security incident involving the 737MAX9 has had a knock-on effect on the global aviation industry. The incident not only affected the model's reputation, but also raised widespread questions about its safety. As a result, China's domestic airlines face a number of challenges. First, due to safety uncertainties, Chinese airlines may need to rethink their fleet planning to ensure the safety of passengers. In addition, airlines may suffer a loss of capacity due to the grounding of the 737max9, especially during the upcoming peak season. This can lead to flight cancellations, delays, or rescheduling, causing inconvenience to travelers and negatively impacting the airline's revenue.
This is a significant opportunity for China's C919 airliner. As a large jet airliner developed in-house by China, the C919 is designed to compete with the Boeing 737 family and the Airbus A320 family. However, the C919 is still in its infancy and has not yet been fully commercially operational. As a result, it faces challenges in technology and market competition.
In order to address these challenges and opportunities, Brother Hao has the following suggestions:
1. It is crucial to strengthen aviation supervision.
China's aviation regulator should step up scrutiny of Boeing 737 MAX airliners and ensure that all aircraft undergo rigorous safety checks before they can be operated. This not only ensures the safety of passengers, but also boosts public confidence in Boeing aircraft.
2. Chinese airlines should seek alternative aircraft types to make up for the capacity gap.
This may involve communicating with Boeing about the progress of safety inspections on the 737MAX and considering other reliable aircraft to meet transportation needs. In addition, optimizing route planning and rethinking route layout is also a strategy to rationalize the use of existing aircraft resources and reduce operating costs.
3. It is crucial to ensure the safety and quality of C919.
Learning from the lessons of the Boeing 737 MAX, the C919 should be strictly checked during the design and testing phases to ensure the safety and reliability of the C919. At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen the training and management of aircraft operation and maintenance. By improving the technical level and awareness of cabin crew and ground maintenance personnel, it is possible to ensure that the operation and maintenance of the C919 meets international standards.
Overall, Hao believes that China's aviation industry is still facing complex situations and challenges. By taking appropriate measures and strategies, we can seize opportunities and address challenges. Strengthening aviation regulation, seeking alternative aircraft types, and ensuring the safety and quality of the C919 are all key steps. Through these efforts, China's aviation industry is expected to achieve greater development and competitive advantages in the global market.