AvTalk Episode 200: Boeing earnings and arraignment, NTSB comments again

What this episode covers

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, Boeing reports its financial results for 2022, we preview Boeing’s arraignment on fraud charges in Texas, the NTSB issues more comments on the Ethiopian 302 final report, and we learn what brought down the air traffic control system in the Philippines earlier this month. Boeing’s big week Boeing reported a full year loss, but positive free cash flow on increasingly positive order and delivery numbers. We dig in to the numbers that seem to be a bit of good news. Meanwhile in Texas, Boeing is arraigned on fraud charges it thought it had settled in 2021 with a deferred prosecution agreement. We break down what’s happening with the case. And Boeing’s last 747 now wears a special—if small—nod to Joe Sutter. Somalia airspace now “A” okay Somali airspace has been upgraded to Class A, meaning air traffic control services are once again operating up to international standards. The resumption of full ATC service comes after 30 years. Philippines ATC just “conked out” The power went out, then the backup power didn’t work. Then technicians fried the computers with too much power. That’s the very short version of what happened in the Philippines earlier this month. NTSB issues second round of comments on ET302 final report The NTSB issued a second set of comments on the Ethiopian 302 final report after concluding that the report includes findings that are “unsupported by evidence — for example, that aircraft electrical problems caused erroneous angle-of-attack (AOA) output.” Airbus hopes new holey foil is holy grail for A350 paint problem In late 2022, Airbus began using a new perforated copper foil in the aft fuselage section of its A350s, which it hopes will resolve the issues of paint peeling away from the aircraft’s skin. That issue remains at the center of a $2 billion lawsuit filed by Qatar Airways that continues to work its way through the High Court in London. Russian regulator approves aircraft cannibalization Russia’s aviation safety regulator has greenlit Russian operators to install non-OEM approved spare parts in their Boeing and Airbus aircraft. Want to buy an Uzbekistan Airways 757? Uzbekistan Airways ordered a dozen A320neo family aircraft this week and remains committed to divesting its older Boeing models. Want to buy an older 757 or two? That wasn’t so hard, was it? United completed the radio altimeter retrofit of its Airbus aircraft for 5G interference mitigation. ZeroAvia hydrogen aircraft makes first flight ZeroAvia’s hydrogen powered Dornier 228 made its first flight last week. Swiss is naming its A220s and Jason is a coward who won’t even try to pronounce the names Swiss will name 20 of its A220s after Swiss tourist destinations. Jason wanted to talk about it on the show, but didn’t want to read the list… C919 makes it into the schedule for the first time The C919 is in the China Eastern schedule for the first time. Flights MU9191 and MU9192 are now scheduled for the end of February. Thank you for listening! Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review on iTunes. Reviews on iTunes not only help us make a better show, they help more people find the podcast! Want to send us additional feedback, just email us. And tell that friend who asked you for a podcast recommendation that AvTalk is the one they want to listen to next.