About this episode
Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems continue to dominate the news, along with 737 MAX certification, lap babies, the proposed JetBlue and Spirit Airlines merger, route growth at United Airlines and Breeze Airways, and the demise of the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter. Also, flight tests for the B-21 Raider and more favorite aviation movies. Aviation News Boeing, not Spirit, mis-installed piece that blew off Alaska MAX 9 jet, industry source says Wichita-based Spirit AeroSystems builds the 737 fuselage for Boeing . A person familiar with the situation says the door plug was removed by Boeing, and then reinstalled on the 737. 127 Days: The Anatomy of a Boeing Quality Failure In The Air Current , Jon Ostrower reconstructs the journey of fuselage 8789 from Spirit AeroSytems to Alaska Airlines. It’s an insightful look at the relationship between Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems. Opposition grows to Boeing 737 MAX 7 safety exemption Boeing wants an exemption to certify the 737 MAX 7 and MAX 10, despite problems with the engine anti-ice system. Video: United Airlines CEO: Boeing’s 737 Max-9 grounding is ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back’ for us https://youtu.be/Rdozbw_Go3Y?si=rmGjvZSNQRcgazMv NTSB Urges Parents Not to Fly With Children on Laps After Alaska Incident At a recent press conference, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said “We would urge passengers to put their children under two in their own seat, in an FAA-approved car seat, so they are secure and safe in case something like this happens.” Currently, the FAA allows children under the age of two to be held in an adult’s lap. Boeing CEO to meet with senators scrutinizing 737 MAX 9 blowout Dave Calhoun has been meeting with U.S. senators to answer their questions about the 737 MAX 9. After meeting with Calhoun, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth said he “offered no assurance” that Boeing would withdraw its exemption request for the 737MAX 7 jet. Boeing Whistleblower: Production Line Has “Enormous Volume Of Defects” Bolts On MAX 9 Weren’t Installed JetBlue casts doubt on its merger deal with Spirit Airlines after judge rules against merger JetBlue Airways has informed Spirit Airlines that the merger agreement might be terminated. JetBlue feels some conditions of the merger agreement can not be met while Spirit says there is no basis for terminating the merger agreement. United Airlines To Launch First-Ever Route From Washington DC To Alaska Breeze Airways Adds Three Airports, 11 Routes To Network After Three Years on Mars, NASA’s Ingenuity Helicopter Mission Ends On April 19, 2021, the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter made history by becoming the first craft to achieve powered, controlled flight on another planet. After sustaining rotor blade damage, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced that the Ingenuity mission had come to an end after 72 flights. This view of NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter was generated using data collected by the Mastcam-Z instrument aboard the agency’s Perseverance Mars rover on Aug. 2, 2023, the 871st Martian day, or sol, of the mission. For more information about Ingenuity, see https://mars.nasa.gov/technology/helicopter . Mentioned Do Electric Aircraft Face Lapse Rate Challenges? B-21 Raider Flight Testing Now Underway Hosts this Episode Max Flight, Rob Mark, Max Trescott, David Vanderhoof, and our Main(e) Man Micah.