24 Questions
What was the primary focus of Boeing's efforts according to the report?
To cut costs and maintain high production numbers
What is the reason for the FAA proposing a $19.7 million penalty against Boeing?
Improper sensors installed on almost 800 of its Max 737 jets
Who did Boeing's new CEO, David Calhoun, blame for the problems with the 737 Max?
The predecessor, Dennis Muilenburg
What was the problem with the MCAS system according to the report?
Boeing made poor assumptions about how it would work
What led to the grounding of Max 737 jets?
Both A and B
What is the main reason behind Boeing's desire to develop the Max 737 jets?
To compete with Airbus's new plane
What did Boeing conceal from its customers, pilots, and the FAA?
The existence of the MCAS system
What is the main criticism of the ODA system?
It sets up inherent conflicts of interest
How many people died in the two crashes of the Max 737 jets?
346
What do family members of the crash victims want to do to the ODA system?
Replace it
What has been the impact of the grounding of Max 737 jets on Boeing?
Ouster of its chief executive and halting of production
What was the focus of the legislative efforts introduced by the Democratic senators?
To make changes to the ODA system
What is a major criticism of the FAA's role in the Max 737 jet crashes?
Lack of oversight following the first crash
What is a consequence of the FAA's proposal to penalize Boeing?
Boeing will have to pay a fine of $19.7 million
What was the consequence of Boeing's poor assumptions about the MCAS system?
A less thorough safety review
What is the significance of Tuesday, according to the passage?
It marks the anniversary of the second crash
What was the main concern of Michael Stumo regarding the ODA system?
It was responsible for his daughter's death
What was the stance of Republican leaders in Congress regarding ODA?
They showed less appetite for sweeping changes
What was the conclusion of the expert reviews and investigations regarding the safety certification system?
It was not broken and did not need wholesale dismantlement
What problem did Boeing fail to fix on roughly 80 percent of the Max fleet?
An alert that didn't work
What was the concern raised by the simulator tests during the Boeing briefing?
The tests didn't evaluate what would happen if a combination of failures caused MCAS to malfunction
What was the consequence of the FAA's failure to act swiftly or decisively enough?
The crashes occurred
What was the issue with Boeing's transparency with the FAA?
Boeing was not transparent enough
What was the Democrats' report pointing to regarding FAA oversight?
Recurring problems with FAA oversight
Study Notes
FAA's Certification Process
- The FAA's certification processes have consistently produced safe aircraft designs, but the agency acknowledges room for improvement.
Boeing's Actions and Faults
- Boeing installed improper sensors on almost 800 of its Max 737 jets, resulting in a proposed $19.7 million penalty from the FAA.
- Boeing prioritized cost-cutting and meeting production schedules over safety, leading to hidden flaws in the MCAS system.
- The company made poor assumptions about the MCAS feature, leading to a less thorough safety review.
- Boeing concealed crucial information from customers, pilots, and the FAA, including not disclosing the existence of MCAS.
Crashes and Consequences
- Two crashes of the Boeing 737 Max jet, one in Indonesia (2018) and one in Ethiopia (2019), resulted in 346 deaths.
- The crashes led to the grounding of the Max 737 jets, the ouster of Boeing's CEO, and the halt of new jet production.
FAA Oversight and Accountability
- The FAA's oversight process was criticized for being too lenient and lacking scrutiny.
- The agency failed to sharpen its oversight after the first crash and didn't join international regulators in grounding the jets until after the second crash.
- The FAA's safety system, known as the ODA, creates inherent conflicts of interest by giving Boeing the power to name engineers who conduct safety work on behalf of the FAA.
Legislative Efforts and Reforms
- Democratic senators introduced legislation to reform the ODA system, giving the FAA's leaders more authority.
- Family members of crash victims demand the complete replacement of the ODA system.
- Republican leaders in Congress are less inclined to make sweeping changes, citing the need for unbiased findings from safety experts.
The FAA's certification processes and its recent actions against Boeing, including a proposed $19.7 million penalty for installing improper sensors on 737 Max jets.
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