Flight Safety Information - October 17, 2024 No. 207 In This Issue : Incident: ANA B773 at Tokyo on Oct 9th 2024, rejected takeoff due to engine failure : Incident: Lufthansa A346 near Amsterdam on Oct 13th 2024, unidentified odour on board : Incident: German E190 at Nuremberg on Oct 13th 2024, engine shut down in flight : Incident: France A320 at Stockholm on Oct 15th 2024, smoke alarm on final approach : Incident: Delta B752 near Greenville on Oct 13th 2024, odour on board : Incident: United A320 near New Orleans on Oct 15th 2024, captain and engine instrument failures : NBAA-BACE Flight Deck Series To Dive into Top Issues : Spirit Airlines Early Retiring its Airbus A319 Fleet : European airlines grappling with plane delivery delays : No pilots, all cargo: Airbus tests loading of autonomous helicopter : Lufthansa fined record $4 million for discriminating against Jewish passengers : Boeing's terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year : Register Now for the 2025 Fuzion Safety Conference! : FlightSafety International - Pilot Instructor hiring event in Wilmington, DE : Calendar of Events Incident: ANA B773 at Tokyo on Oct 9th 2024, rejected takeoff due to engine failure An ANA All Nippon Airways Boeing 777-300, registration JA791A performing flight NH-108 from Tokyo Haneda (Japan) to San Francisco,CA (USA) with 148 people on board, was accelerating for takeoff from Haneda's runway 34R when the crew rejected takeoff at high speed (about 105 knots over ground) due to the failure of the right hand engine (GE90). The aircraft slowed safely and returned to the apron. The runway was closed for about 3.5 hours to clear metallic fragments from the engine. Japan's Ministry of Transport reported the right hand engine suffered damage to its turbine blades. The occurrence is being investigated. A replacement Boeing 777-300 registration JA798A reached San Francisco with a delay of about 4 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Tokyo (standing Oct 16th 2024). https://avherald.com/h?article=51f051fa&opt=0 Incident: Lufthansa A346 near Amsterdam on Oct 13th 2024, unidentified odour on board A Lufthansa Airbus A340-600, registration D-AIHF performing flight LH-418 from Frankfurt/Main (Germany) to Washington Dulles,DC (USA), was enroute at FL340 over Netherlands near Amsterdam when the crew decided to return to Frankfurt for a safe landing on runway 25C about one hour after departure. The aircraft stopped on the runway for an inspection by emergency services for about 8 minutes before continuing to the apron. A passenger reported cabin crew announced they were returning to Frankfurt due to an unidentified smell on board that caused discomfort to some of the crew. As they were unable to identify the source of the smell the captain decided to return to Frankfurt. A replacement A340-600 registration D-AIHX reached Washington with a delay of about 9:10 hours. The occurrence aircraft returned to service about 25 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=51f04517&opt=0 Incident: German E190 at Nuremberg on Oct 13th 2024, engine shut down in flight A German Airways Embraer ERJ-190 on behalf of KLM, registration D-ACJJ performing flight KL-1838 from Nuremberg (Germany) to Amsterdam (Netherlands), was climbing out of Nuremberg's runway 28 when the crew stopped the climb at 5000 feet after the left hand engine (CF34) lost oil pressure and needed to be shut down. The aircraft returned to Nuremberg for a safe landing on runway 28 about 15 minutes after departure. The aircraft is still on the ground in Nuremberg about 84 hours (3 days 12 hours) after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=51f041c4&opt=0 Incident: France A320 at Stockholm on Oct 15th 2024, smoke alarm on final approach An Air France Airbus A320-200, registration F-GKXC performing flight AF-1062 from Paris Charles de Gaulle (France) to Stockholm (Sweden) with 170 people on board, was on final approach to Stockholm Arlanda's runway 01R when a smoke alarm went off in the cabin. The crew continued for a safe landing on the runway, vacated the runway and stopped on the parallel taxiway for an inspection by emergency services for about 8 minutes before continuing to the apron. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 2.5 hours before departing for the return flight with a delay of about 100 minutes. https://avherald.com/h?article=51f0408c&opt=0 Incident: Delta B752 near Greenville on Oct 13th 2024, odour on board A Delta Airlines Boeing 757-200, registration N543US performing flight DL-2305 from Philadelphia,PA to Atlanta,GA (USA) with 194 people on board, was enroute at FL340 about 50nm northnortheast of Greenville/Spartanburg,SC (USA) when the crew decided to divert to Greenville for a safe landing on runway 22 about 20 minutes later. Passengers reported there had been an odour in the cabin from the beginning of the flight, which became increasingly worse as the flight progressed. A replacement Boeing 757-200 registration N692DL reached Atlanta with a delay of about 3 hours. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground in Greenville for about 22.5 hours, then positioned to Atlanta and is still on the ground in Atlanta about 40 hours after landing in Atlanta. https://avherald.com/h?article=51f02b12&opt=0 Incident: United A320 near New Orleans on Oct 15th 2024, captain and engine instrument failures A United Airbus A320-200, registration N432UA performing flight UA-1195 from Charleston,SC to Houston Intercontinental,TX (USA), was enroute at FL340 about 130nm northwest of New Orleans,LA (USA) when the crew declared emergency and decided to divert to New Orleans reporting instrumentation problems. On approach to New Orleans, after listening to ATIS, the crew inquired about the weather conditions at New Orleans and whether ILS Category 1 conditions might worsen. The crew advised they had lost all instruments on the captain's side and the engine #1 (V2527, left hand) instruments including fuel indications, they had still total fuel indication which looked okay. The crew requested to stop the descent at about 6600 feet and climb back to 7000 feet, subsequently decided to divert to Baton Rouge,LA (USA) maintaining 7000 feet and landed safely on Baton Rouge's runway 22R about 40 minutes after leaving FL340. A replacement A320-200 registration N437UA reached Houston with a delay of about 7 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Baton Rouge about 20.5 hours after landing. The FAA reported: "United Airlines Flight 1195 landed safely at Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport in Louisiana around 8:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday, Oct. 15, after the crew reported a possible instrument failure. The Airbus A320 took off from Charleston International Airport in South Carolina and was headed to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. The FAA will investigate." https://avherald.com/h?article=51f012c5&opt=0 NBAA-BACE Flight Deck Series To Dive into Top Issues Leaders to provide perspectives on topics ranging from AI to sustainability NBAA’s Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition is drawing a range of CEOs, industry executives, agency officials, and other thought leaders to participate in its Flight Deck series. NBAA is launching a new panel-and-discussion series during BACE next week in Las Vegas, bringing together a spectrum of industry leaders to discuss key issues in an interactive format. The Flight Deck series will feature CEOs, government officials, other industry executives, and “big picture” thinkers to provide their views on the most pressing topics confronting business aviation. In addition, Flight Deck will provide a forum for executives to share thought leadership and highlight a range of technologies from companies including Avinode, Electra, Joby, and Lilium. Held all three days on the convention floor (Booth 100), the Flight Deck series kicks off on the opening day on October 22 with a discussion surrounding AI in business aviation and also will delve into today’s business aircraft market. A “Meet the Regulators” session, rounding out the first-day sessions, will include perspectives from senior FAA and TSA officials. Other topics throughout the week thread through flight security, industry outlook, sustainability, and a range of discussions surrounding emerging technologies and the advanced air mobility sector. On October 24, the third day of the show, the Flight Deck series will conclude with a "Collegiate Connect" session. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2024-10-16/nbaa-bace-flight-deck-series-dive-top-issues Spirit Airlines Early Retiring its Airbus A319 Fleet The analyst notes that Spirit Airlines has not scheduled any A319 flights beyond January 8, 2025. FLORIDA- Spirit Airlines (NK) is set to retire its Airbus A319 fleet on January 8, 2025, according to independent aviation analyst Ishrion Aviation. The carrier has scheduled four final A319 flights on that date, all departing from Fort Lauderdale (FLL). The planned final flights include routes to Newark (EWR), Boston (BOS), Houston (IAH), and San Juan (SJU). Flight NK262 from San Juan to Fort Lauderdale is expected to be the last A319 operation for Spirit Airlines. Spirit’s latest fleet plan from August indicated a retirement timeline in the second quarter of 2025. However, the accelerated schedule suggests the airline may be expediting the process. The analyst notes that Spirit Airlines has not scheduled any A319 flights beyond January 8, 2025. An overnight flight from Fort Lauderdale to Medellín (MDE) is also scheduled on the A319 for January 8, but there is no return flight on the same aircraft type. This discrepancy may indicate that Spirit hasn’t fully updated its schedule yet. Industry observers have long considered the A319 somewhat small for Spirit’s business model, which relies on maximizing seat capacity. The A319’s increased range compared to the A320 isn’t necessary for Spirit’s route network, making the larger A320 a more suitable option for the low-cost carrier. Recent changes have already begun as Spirit nears retiring the A319 fleet. The Fort Lauderdale to Newark route, previously serviced by an A319, has been using an A320 for the past few weeks. Spirit Airlines is engaging in critical negotiations with bondholders as it considers filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The budget carrier’s financial woes have intensified following the collapse of its proposed merger with JetBlue Airways (B6). In January 2024, a federal judge blocked JetBlue’s $3.8 billion acquisition of Spirit, citing concerns over reduced market competition. This ruling dealt a significant blow to Spirit’s financial strategy, leaving the airline to navigate its mounting debt independently. Spirit now faces a daunting $3.3 billion debt burden, with over $1.1 billion in secured bonds set to mature within a year. The airline must refinance or extend these notes by October 21 to meet its credit card processor’s deadline. CEO Ted Christie confirmed in August that the company is actively discussing options with bondholders’ advisers to address these looming maturities. The airline’s financial struggles stem from its inability to generate an annual profit since before the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to these challenges, Spirit plans to implement drastic measures, including a nearly 20% reduction in capacity for the fourth quarter. This significant operational downsizing aims to streamline costs and improve financial stability. Compounding Spirit’s troubles, the recall of Pratt & Whitney engines has forced the airline to ground part of its fleet. This unexpected setback has led to pilot furloughs, further straining the carrier’s operational capabilities and financial resources. JetBlue to Retire Embraer 190 or E190 fleet The failed $3.8 billion merger with JetBlue, which was intended to create a robust low-fare competitor in the U.S. aviation market, has left Spirit in a precarious financial position. JetBlue is also retiring its Embraer 190 fleet in 2025. The New York-based carrier will use a new, efficient, and modern Airbus A220 fleet instead of E190. Other US carriers are also planning to retire their old regional and narrowbody aircraft with modern and fuel-efficient aircraft. However, they are forced to extend their service due to delays in new delivery. https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2024/10/17/spirit-airlines-early-retiring-its-airbus-a319-fleet/ European airlines grappling with plane delivery delays BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European airlines are grappling with delivery delays from planemakers Airbus and Boeing, they said at a conference on Wednesday, although budget carrier Ryanair noted the capacity constraints would be good for ticket pricing. Ryanair group CEO Michael O'Leary said the company would be doing well if it got 10 or 15 aircraft from Boeing after March next year, instead of the expected 30. Air France-KLM said it was impacted by Pratt & Whitney engine issues with its Airbus A220 orders, while Lufthansa said it had never seen delays like those for the Boeing 777X, adding they had reached around five years. “There’s an incredible amount of unprofitable capacity in the US marketplace and we’ve seen that exiting at a rapid pace starting in mid-August that continues into next year,” Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella told analysts during the company’s third-quarter earnings call on Wednesday. “The changes we’ve seen so far are only actually the tip of the iceberg.” United jumped as much as 13% in New York trading Wednesday, the most since April. Shares of Delta Air Lines Inc., Southwest Airlines Co. and American Airlines Group Inc. also rose. Prices have improved “rapidly” for leisure trips thanks to carriers that are slashing money-losing flights, United executives said on the call. At the same time, revenue from business bookings is up as more employees return to working in offices and budget carriers sell more of their new and costlier premium options. United’s third-quarter operating margin of 10.5% is expected to be the highest of the four largest US airlines, Conor Cunningham, a Melius Research analyst, said in a report. Delta reported adjusted operating margin 9.4% last week, while American and Southwest both are set to report results on Oct. 24. “United’s credibility continues to grow,” he said, adding that the company’s profit goals laid out in 2021 seem “more plausible than ever.” The carrier reported a third-quarter profit ahead of Wall Street’s expectations and a fourth-quarter outlook consistent with analysts’ estimates. United also said it will buy back $1.5 billion worth of stock, starting with up to $500 million this year. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/european-airlines-grappling-plane-delivery-101130773.html No pilots, all cargo: Airbus tests loading of autonomous helicopter Airbus U.S. Space and Defense has conducted its first demonstration as part of a program to build an autonomous, uncrewed version of the UH-72 Lakota transportation helicopter for the U.S. Marine Corps. The Lakota variant, which Airbus calls the UH-72 Logistics Connector, is the company’s bid for the Marines’ Aerial Logistics Connector program, senior manager for business development Carl Forsling said Monday at the Association of the U.S. Army’s Annual Meeting and Exhibition in Washington. Aerial Logistics Connector is one of several Defense Department programs aimed at improving how the military delivers logistical support to troops in distributed environments during a high-intensity conflict. Airbus built a mockup of an uncrewed Lakota’s internal chassis, with all crew stations removed to make room for cargo throughout the body. Airbus tested it recently at Marine Corps Air Station New River in North Carolina to make sure standard Marine cargo containers and other specialized cargo could be loaded and unloaded from it, Forsling said, though the company declined to say exactly when the demonstration took place. “Integrating warfighter inputs early on in this phase of the contract helps ensure we’re hitting all the marks and gives us invaluable insights so we deliver the right capabilities to the U.S. Marine Corps,” Rob Geckle, chairman and chief executive of Airbus U.S. Space and Defense. Airbus aims to have the UH-72 helicopter fly autonomously, Forsling said, and is working with the Marine Corps and other firms to develop the necessary technology. If the Marine Corps or another customer decides they want a piloted version in the future, the design could be adapted to accommodate a human pilot, according to Forsling. Without the need for a cockpit, this UH-72 would use the space behind its nose for more cargo storage, Forsling said. The nose may open up like a clamshell or swing open to one side on a hinge, he said, but Airbus has not yet decided on the exact configuration. The ability to front-load cargo into the UH-72 will make it possible to carry larger containers or equipment that would not fit in a normal Lakota’s side doors, according to Forsling. It will also allow users to load cargo into the helicopter with a forklift, he said, and load missiles for transport. The Marine Corps isn’t currently requiring the UH-72 to fire ordnance, Forsling said. However, the helicopter could be adapted using open systems architecture should the Corps or another future customer decide it needed strike capability, he said. Demonstrations will continue through the first phase of the middle tier of the acquisition program, which ends in late 2025, Forsling said, and the Marine Corps will then decide whether to move forward with the program and with who. The service aims to have a flying prototype for the Aerial Logistics Connector program in 2028 or 2029 and make a production decision by the end of 2029. Near Earth Autonomy, Leonardo and Honeywell are also working as a team on the Aerial Logistics Connector program. Airbus is now in the design phase of this program and doing risk reduction work, focusing on the helicopter itself, Forsling said. As it moves toward the next phase, Airbus is laying the groundwork for autonomous flight, he said. Forsling said it’s too soon to say how much the UH-72 might cost or whether it would be more or less expensive than the standard Lakota. He declined to comment on whether Airbus has spoken to other services or foreign countries about the UH-72B, but said it would be applicable across the joint environment and with allies. https://www.defensenews.com/air/2024/10/16/no-pilots-all-cargo-airbus-tests-loading-of-autonomous-helicopter/ Lufthansa fined record $4 million for discriminating against Jewish passengers Germany’s flagship airline has been fined $4 million by the U.S. Department of Transportation over allegations it discriminated against a group of Jewish passengers. The regulator said Tuesday that Lufthansa had prohibited 128 people wearing traditional Orthodox Jewish clothing from boarding for a connecting flight in Germany as they made their way from New York City to Budapest, Hungary, in May 2022. “Based on the alleged misconduct of some passengers,” DOT said, Lufthansa staff “treated them all as if they were a single group and denied them boarding,” despite many of the passengers not knowing each other nor traveling together. Some individuals in the group allegedly violated the airline’s mask policy. Video of the incident at the time showed Lufthansa staff telling passengers that “everyone has to pay” for the mistakes of a few, then defining “everyone” as “Jewish coming from JFK.” At the time, German media reported that staff denied boarding to people they determined were Jewish because they were wearing a yarmulke (a Jewish skull cap) or had sidelocks (known as payot in Hebrew). The penalty is the largest ever issued by the DOT against an airline for a civil rights violation. “No one should face discrimination when they travel, and today’s action sends a clear message to the airline industry that we are prepared to investigate and take action whenever passengers’ civil rights are violated,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. Lufthansa (Andre Pain / AFP via Getty Images file ) Lufthansa planes at Frankfurt Airport in Frankfurt, Germany, on Feb. 17, 2023. Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, the Biden administration’s special envoy against antisemitism, told NBC News in 2022 that the details of how the airline had treated the passengers were “unbelievable.” “[When] I first heard it, I said, ‘Oh, this must be wrong. Someone must be misreporting this.’ And then of course, it turned out to be precisely right — and worse than we even thought,” she said. In a statement Tuesday, the airline said it had fully cooperated with the DOT as it conducted its investigation and that it had partnered with the American Jewish Committee in the wake of the incident. “Through our ongoing collaboration, we have curated a first-of-its kind training program in the airline industry for our managers and employees to address antisemitism and discrimination,” it said. “Lufthansa is dedicated to being an ambassador of goodwill, tolerance, diversity, and acceptance.” At the time, the carrier apologized for the incident, saying it had “zero tolerance for racism, antisemitism and discrimination of any type.” Lipstadt said in 2022: “If any airline had done it, it would have been outrageous. But the terrible, awful irony of it coming from the German national airline was outrageous.” https://www.yahoo.com/news/lufthansa-fined-record-4-million-164309534.html Boeing's terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year Boeing is having a rough year. The company has faced mechanical problems, lawsuits, a leadership shake-up, and layoffs. Here's a breakdown of how Boeing's year has gone from bad to worse. Boeing has been going through it this year. From losing a door plug on an Alaska Airlines flight, causing a side panel to blow out in midair, to an exodus of corporate executives, the company has faced a litany of crises in 2024. The company's stock is down over 40% since January. Here's a breakdown of how Boeing's year went from bad to worse. Representatives for Boeing did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Emergency on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 The fuselage plug area of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 Boeing 737-9 MAX, which was forced to make an emergency landing with a gap in the fuselage, is seen during its investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in Portland, Oregon The problems began almost immediately this year when, on January 5, Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 lost a door plug midair, blowing a hole in the side of the plane. While no one died in the incident, several passengers were injured, and the pilots were forced to make an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon. In the aftermath of the incident, the FAA temporarily grounded over 170 of Boeing's 737 Max 9 planes until they could complete safety inspections. The Justice Department opened an investigation into Boeing shortly after, and the FBI told passengers aboard the flight that they might have been victims of a crime. Ongoing litigation Boeing was hit with multiple lawsuits this year. Passengers from the Alaska Airlines flight filed a class action suit against the company just days after the incident. "Passengers were shocked and confused, thrust into a waking nightmare unsure if these were their last seconds alive," the lawsuit said. Boeing's shareholders filed a separate class action suit against the company in January, stating that it had prioritized profit over safety, Reuters reported. Separately, in July, Boeing struck a plea deal related to two 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people. If a judge approves the deal, Boeing will plead guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud, avoid a trial, pay a fine of about $244 million, and invest at least $455 million in safety and compliance measures. Boeing agreed to pay $2.5 billion in 2021 in a deal with the federal government to avoid prosecution for the crashes, but Justice Department officials said in May that Boeing had violated portions of the deal, putting a trial back on the table and leading to this latest offer. Relatives of the deceased passengers asked a Texas judge this month to throw out the agreement, which they called a "sweetheart" deal. The families have previously called for the company to pay a fine amounting to nearly $25 billion. FAA audit of Boeing's safety procedures The Federal Aviation Administration commissioned a report into Boeing following the fatal 2018 and 2019 crashes — and the results published in February weren't good news for the company. The FAA report found 27 insufficient areas in Boeing's safety procedures, including no clear system for employees to report safety concerns, confusing management structures, and poor communication with employees about safety procedures. The latest statement from the FAA about Boeing's compliance to remedy the safety issues was published in August. It said the agency continues "actively monitoring Boeing's progress in a variety of ways," including regular reviews by FAA experts of Boeing's safety procedures and issuing airworthiness certificates for every newly produced Boeing 737 Max. The FAA itself has faced scrutiny for its oversight of Boeing. A report from the Department of Transportation's Office of the Inspector General in October found the agency's checks were insufficient. Exodus of Boeing executives Dave Calhoun surrounded by reporters. Former Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun.Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images In March, Boeing announced a leadership shake-up. CEO Dan Calhoun said he would step down. Stan Deal, the CEO of the company's commercial airplanes division, said he would retire. In the same announcement, board chair Larry Kellner announced his plan not to seek reelection. Stephanie Pope, the company's COO, was promoted to replace Deal shortly after his departure. At the end of July, Kelly Ortberg was named the company's new CEO. Ted Colbert, who headed Boeing's defense, space, and security division, became the first prominent executive to leave the company after Ortberg took over. Colbert's departure was announced in September. Stranded astronauts NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams flew to space on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. NASA The aerospace company faced another high-profile problem in June when NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams traveled to the International Space Station on Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spaceship. It marked the first time Boeing flew astronauts to space. The astronauts left Earth on June 5 and were supposed to return after eight days, but issues with Starliner's thrusters and helium leaks caused delays. NASA and Boeing began troubleshooting the problems to bring Wilmore and Williams back home. However, in late July, the two astronauts were still stuck at the International Space Station. NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager, Steve Stich, said in a press briefing that month that Elon Musk's SpaceX could bring home the astronauts if needed. After working with Boeing to determine whether the two astronauts could safely return to Earth on Starliner, NASA announced in August that it chose SpaceX to do the job instead. "Spaceflight is risky," NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said during a press conference. "Even at its safest. Even at its most routine. A test flight, by nature, is neither safe nor routine. So, the decision to keep Butch and Suni aboard the International Space Station, and bring the Boeing Starliner home un-crewed, is a result of a commitment to safety." The decision was a major blow to Boeing, which spent $4.2 billion developing Starliner. Wilmore and Williams' flight was the final step Boeing needed to clear for NASA to certify Starliner for human spaceflight. It highlighted just how far Boeing lags behind its competitor, SpaceX. Wilmore and Williams are now expected to return to Earth in 2025 on SpaceX's Crew Dragon spaceship, which launched for the International Space Station in September. Union strike A worker holding up two signs that say "Machinists union on strike against Boeing." Thousands of Boeing union members have been on strike since September 13.Stephen Brashear/Getty Images Thousands of unionized Boeing employees walked out in September after contract negotiations broke down. The strike began despite a promising pay package proposal, which would have raised wages by more than 25% over the contract period for more than 32,000 employees in the Pacific Northwest. Ultimately, union workers denied the proposal and voted to initiate a strike, which is costing the company about $50 million a day. Negotiations have now stalled, with both sides filing National Labor Relations Board violations accusing the other of negotiating in bad faith. Layoffs Boeing began furloughs of white-collar workers in mid-September after the strike began. Select employees were required to take one week off every four weeks on a rolling basis. Ortberg, in a staff memo, also announced that executive leadership would take a "commensurate pay reduction for the duration of the strike," though details of the pay reduction remain unclear. Layoffs began several weeks later. In mid-October, Boeing announced plans to lay off about 10% of its 170,000-member workforce. In a memo to employees, Ortberg said Boeing was in a "difficult position" and that "restoring our company requires tough decisions." The company also delayed production of its 777X twin-engine jet and discontinued production of its 767 cargo plane, the memo noted. Production delays with the Boeing 777X plane The experimental 777X is Boeing's newest widebody plane, banking 481 orders from more than a dozen global carriers even though regulators have not yet approved it to fly passengers. But the aircraft has been riddled with production problems — like supply chain issues, design troubles, and now the ongoing strike — which have already put it five years behind schedule and set Boeing back $1.5 billion. That hole will likely deepen with the latest entry delay to 2026, further eroding the industry's trust in Boeing's 777X program. It could also push carriers to choose Boeing's European rival Airbus and its already-in-service Airbus A350. The aircraft is still uncertified but started certification flight testing in July. Testing was halted in August due to a problem with a key part that connects the engine to the aircraft, CNBC reported. Production troubles with Boeing's 737 MAX aircraft A Boeing 737 tail fin and a Boeing 737 Max winglet. Boeing is struggling with 737 MAX production. JULIEN DE ROSA/Getty Images The FAA announced in January that it would not grant any production expansions of Boeing's MAX aircraft, including the 737 MAX 9, following the emergency on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. "The Jan. 5 Boeing 737-9 MAX incident must never happen again," the FAA said in a press release said. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said Boeing would not be cleared to expand production or add additional production lines for the 737 MAX "until we are satisfied that the quality control issues uncovered during this process are resolved," according to the press release. Boeing held a three-hour meeting with the FAA in June to address safety and quality concerns. Afterward, Whitaker spoke at a press conference, where he told a reporter that expanding production of 737 MAX planes was still up in the air. The FAA told Business Insider, "This is about systemic change, and there's a lot of work to be done. Boeing must meet milestones, and the timing of our decisions will be driven by their ability to do so." The agency added: "Boeing has delivered a roadmap to change its safety culture, and the FAA will make sure Boeing implements the changes they have outlined. We will not approve production increases beyond the current cap until we're satisfied they've followed through on implementing corrective actions and transforming their safety culture." Whistleblowers report problems at Boeing Sam Salehpour, a Boeing engineer, testified at an April Senate hearing that the company ignored his reports on safety concerns, that his boss retaliated against him, and that he received threats against his physical safety. The Senate subcommittee investigating Boeing's safety and quality practices released a 204-page report in June. The report included accounts from several whistleblowers. Sam Mohawk, a Boeing quality assurance inspector, said the company lost track of hundreds of bad 737 parts and instructed employees to conceal improperly stored plane parts from FAA inspectors. Another whistleblower, Richard Cuevas, wrote in a June complaint to the FAA that holes were being incorrectly drilled on Boeing's 787 Dreamliner planes. Money woes In a sign of how Boeing's problems have hurt its bottom line, the company said in a regulatory filing to the SEC in October that it had entered a $10 billion credit agreement with four major banks: JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, and Citibank. The company also filed a prospectus saying it might sell up to $25 billion in securities. "These are two prudent steps to support the company's access to liquidity," Boeing said in a statement. Bank of America analysts estimated that the strike alone is costing Boeing $50 million a day. https://www.yahoo.com/news/boeings-terrible-horrible-no-good-181442605.html YOUR NEXT DESTINATION Now Hiring at Our Center in Wilmington, Delaware FlightSafety is seeking experienced pilots to join the ranks of the best flight instructors in the industry at our Wilmington Learning Center. Use your seasoned skills to make an impact on aviation in a profound way. Competitive Incentives Available · Schedule 60 Days in Advance · Sign on and Monthly Bonuses · Competitive Base Salaries · Full Relocation Support · Be Home Every Night · Career Growth RSVP Today Interested in attending? RSVP and submit your application. REGISTER NOW Date: Thursday, November 14, 2024 Time: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST Location: 155 N. DuPont Highway, New Castle, DE 19720-3121 Contact Donna.Quattro@flightsafety.com for more information We look forward to seeing you. CALENDAR OF EVENTS • 2024 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition - Oct. 22-24 (Vegas) • INTERNATIONAL AVIATION SAFETY SUMMIT - November 5 - 7, 2024 (Rio De Janeiro) • NATA’s Aviation Business Conference (ABC) - November 12-13,2024, Nashville, TN • Sponsor the 2025 Fuzion Safety Conference! March 4 & 5, 2025 (Orlando) • Annual Women in Aviation International Conference, Gaylord Rockies Resort & Conference Center | Denver ColoradoMarch 27-29, 2025 • AIA Conference: The Aviation Insurance Association's annual conference in Orlando, Florida from April 25–28, 2025 • Sixth Edition of International Accident Investigation Forum, 21 to 23 May 2025, Singapore Curt Lewis