Is Boeing Facing a Crisis?

Various countries are banning flights of Boeing's latest model, the 737 Max 8. Beyond the severe blow to Boeing's reputation, where does the problem lie? It is said that years of credibility can be lost overnight, and this story involves one of the safest airplanes in the world, which has now become one of the scariest due to two consecutive crashes (which may be due to issues with the aircraft's technical systems). The new aircraft is designed for a high-demand market. In late January 2016, the Boeing 737 Max successfully completed its first flight from Boeing's facilities in Seattle. This aircraft is a strong competitor to the Airbus A320. This segment of the air market, which includes single-aisle aircraft with a passenger capacity between 100 and 200 and a range of up to seven thousand kilometers, is the most in-demand class of aircraft in the world for various reasons. These aircraft can efficiently conduct regional flights, have low operational costs, and the number of passengers makes their use economical. The first series of Boeing 737 took to the skies in 1967, with Lufthansa being one of its first users. For years, this aircraft had no competitors in its class in Europe until the Airbus A320 took flight in 1987, which posed a threat to its dominance. The Boeing 737 Max made its first flight successfully in late January 2016. However, this aircraft had a strong competitor in the East; the Tupolev 154 was its Eastern rival. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the main competitor of the 737 became the Airbus A320. In the U.S., since 1979, the Boeing 737 had a competitor named McDonnell Douglas MD-80, which was not very successful against the 737. It seems that Boeing's new technologies can no longer influence customer distrust. In less than six months, two Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft have crashed. The 737 is known as Boeing's 'Baby Boeing.' Thousands of these aircraft have been produced, and more than 500 companies have used or are using them. The series of this aircraft starts with number 100 and goes up to 900 and Max. Iran Air covered domestic flights and flights to neighboring countries with the 737 series 200 for years. This aircraft was retired from Iran Air without incident before 2004. Based on this excellent record, Iran Air had included the purchase of 50 Boeing 737 Max aircraft in its contract before the U.S. withdrew from the JCPOA. This contract was canceled following the U.S. exit from the JCPOA. Boeing aimed to provide a decisive response to the recent successes of the Airbus A320 with the 737 Max. Keith Lorcan, the program manager for the Boeing 737 Max, stated on the day of the aircraft's test flight, 'We have a very excellent and exceptional product here, and we believe it will be one of the most popular passenger aircraft ever.' This aircraft is equipped with two turbofan engines made by CFM and is capable of flying routes of seven to nine thousand kilometers. The Boeing 737 Max has a 20% reduction in fuel consumption compared to previous models due to its advanced new engines, and according to Boeing, it has 8% lower operational costs per seat compared to its main competitor, the Airbus A320 Neo. Boeing has also redesigned the Max's fuselage and wings, resulting in reduced overall weight and improved aerodynamics. Boeing claims the new Max wings can save up to 2% in fuel consumption. However, it seems that these claims from Boeing can no longer influence customer distrust. In less than six months, two Boeing 737 Max aircraft have crashed. In the first crash involving Lion Air in Indonesia, which resulted in the deaths of 189 people, it was suggested that the aircraft's guidance systems were responsible for this deadly incident. Initial reports of the fatal crash of the passenger Boeing in Indonesia were released. Preliminary investigation results indicate that new sensors located at the nose of the aircraft may have sent incorrect information to the aircraft's central systems due to potential software issues. This incorrect information could direct the nose of the aircraft toward the ground in autopilot mode. Even in this situation, once control is handed over to the pilot, steering could still be problematic and could lead to a crash. The MCAS system was initially deemed useful, but it is now suspected that it may malfunction due to computational errors or sensor failures, diverting the aircraft's nose toward the ground when it is not necessary. If this system fails and the pilot reacts too late, a crash is inevitable. With the crash of the Boeing 737 Max 8 in Ethiopia, which resulted in the deaths of all 157 passengers, did the autopilot or the aircraft's sensors fail? One reason that reinforces the likelihood of sensor errors is the aircraft's nose striking the ground. Investigations into the 737 Max crash in Indonesia also indicated that sensor errors caused the nose of the aircraft to point toward the ground. The 737 Max is equipped with a maneuverability enhancement system called MCAS. In the 737 Max model, the location of the engine, power, and thrust have undergone fundamental changes compared to previous models. The thrust of the engine and the new engine positioning can sometimes lead to the nose rising and increasing the angle of attack. If this angle increases excessively, it may cause a stall. To prevent stalling, the MCAS system activates and automatically pulls the nose of the aircraft downward. This system was initially evaluated as beneficial, but it is now suspected that it may malfunction due to computational errors or sensor failures, diverting the aircraft's nose toward the ground when it is not necessary. If this system fails and the pilot reacts too late, a crash is inevitable. If errors from the autopilot, automatic control systems, and sensors are confirmed, concerns about Boeing's current activities will increase, especially as Boeing has announced it is working on fully autonomous and pilotless aircraft.