Episode 9 - Boeing MAX 8 accidents & the failure of governance

This week it’s the terrible crashes involving the Boeing 737 MAX 8 – one in October 2018 and the other in March 2019. In both cases an automated trim called the Movement Characteristics Augmentation System is believed to have been behind the accidents. The story is also a shocking failure by the Federal Aviation Authority in managing a crisis, as well as serious questions of governance at Boeing. While the accident reports are awaited, there is enough information from both FAA and Boeing itself to cover this as an example of poor design, poor safety management, and poor oversight – particularly when it comes to risk analysis. Since the accidents Boeing has announced a slew of changes to its quality control process, including the announcement in September that a new Safety Committee was being created led by Boeing veteran Beth Pasztor. Too little too late for 346 people. Boeing has also split the role of CEO and chairman of the Board which is a bit like closing the barn door after the horse has bolted but at least its beginning to take action internally. Boeing has built a name around allowing pilots to fly their planes, whereas competitor Airbus designs their planes around full fly-by-wire automation, but back in the mid 2000s something radical happened at the American plane manufacturer. This podcast looks at a story that has saddened many in the aviation sector. The oldest aircraft manufacturer is now under pressure legally and ethically.