🚀 Buckle up, aviators! The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee is gearing up for a crucial hearing next week that's set to put Boeing's safety culture under the microscope.
On Thursday, the committee announced it will meet with members of an expert panel who, back in February, released a scathing report criticizing Boeing's approach to safety and calling for some serious overhauls. ✈️
This hearing couldn't come at a tougher time for Boeing. After a mid-air panel blowout on a new 737 MAX 9 on January 5, the aviation giant has been navigating some turbulent skies. 🌩️ The incident has led to a shakeup in management, tighter regulations from U.S. authorities, and a significant drop in aircraft deliveries—down by half in March! 📉
The panel set to testify includes heavyweights like Tracy Dillinger, a NASA safety culture guru; Javier de Luis, an aeronautics expert from MIT (who sadly lost his sister in the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash); and Najmedin Meshkati, a University of Southern California professor specializing in aviation safety.
Senator Maria Cantwell, chair of the committee, expressed her admiration for the panel's report and emphasized the importance of hearing from its members before involving the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in future hearings.
Boeing, however, is keeping tight-lipped about the upcoming session. 🤐
The spotlight on Boeing's safety practices intensified after two tragic 737 MAX crashes in Indonesia (2018) and Ethiopia (2019), which claimed 346 lives. The panel's report didn't hold back, highlighting \"a lack of awareness of safety-related metrics at all levels of the organization\" and pointing out \"inadequate and confusing implementation of the components of a positive safety culture.\"
Earlier this year, the FAA gave Boeing a 90-day deadline to tackle systemic quality-control issues following an audit that found flaws in the company's manufacturing processes.
But wait, there's more drama ahead! 🎭 The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations is set to hear testimony later next Wednesday from Boeing whistleblower and engineer Sam Salehpour. He alleges that Boeing dismissed safety and quality concerns in the production of its 787 and 777 jets.
Senator Richard Blumenthal, chair of the subcommittee, stated that Salehpour will testify about what he calls \"Boeing's broken safety culture.\" Blumenthal has also requested that outgoing CEO Dave Calhoun appear at a future hearing. 👀
Boeing has responded to Salehpour's claims, stating they're \"fully confident in the 787\" and asserting that his allegations are \"inaccurate and do not represent the comprehensive work Boeing has done to ensure the quality and long-term safety of the aircraft.\"
As the saga unfolds, all eyes are on Boeing to see how the company navigates these challenges and restores confidence in its commitment to safety. Stay tuned, folks! 🛫✨
Reference(s):
U.S. Senate committee to hold hearing on Boeing safety culture report
cgtn.com
