After years of turbulence, is Boeing ready for takeoff?

You know who we haven't discussed on this show in a while? The Boeing company. They're the 2nd biggest private employer in this state. It’s good we haven't talked about ’em because when we do, it's usually bad news.The fatal crashes a few years ago, the door panel blowing out last year, the machinist strike. The US Senate held a whistleblower hearing and the title was “Examining Boeing’s Broken Safety Culture: Firsthand Accounts.” - Not a great sign. So how is Boeing doing now? Well, the stock price is up 20% this year, Qatar Airlines is buying 210 new jets, and Boeing might not face criminal charges after all for those fatal crashes - something the victims’ families are angry about. Let’s catch up on Boeing... GUESTS:  Lauren Rosenblatt, Seattle Times business reporter covering Boeing Richard Aboulafia, managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory RELATED LINKS:  Federal prosecutors confirm they may drop Boeing criminal charge MAX crash families say DOJ is handing Boeing ‘get out of jail free’ card Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems furloughs workers on 737 program Boeing nears Spirit AeroSystems takeover after move by Airbus Boeing is nearly back on its feet — just in time for Trump trade war hit Boeing sets new values after ‘brutal’ employee feedback Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.