Former internal messages from Boeing employees, disparaging the Federal Aviation Administration, were leaked by the US Congress overnight Thursday to Friday.
While relations between the authorities and the airline are already complicated, these revelations may further complicate the return to service of the 737 MAX.
"Would you put your family in a MAX simulator? No I will not "
Communications between employees, boasting of being able to have the 737 MAX certified with a minimum of training for pilots, were transmitted by Boeing to American parliamentarians last December. They report problems encountered with simulators, which reproduce real flight conditions, explains the aircraft manufacturer, in a press release.
"I have still not been forgiven by God for what I hid last year," wrote one of these employees in a 2018 message, referring to interactions with the regulator. "I know, but the regulator only gets what he deserves after trying to interfere in our business. It slows progress, ”wrote another in August 2015.“ This plane is designed by buffoons, who, in turn, are overseen by monkeys, ”said another in a 2017 message, appearing to be about the FAA. "Would you put your family in a MAX simulator? No, I wouldn't, ”said an employee to a colleague in another exchange. "No," replies the latter too.
Useless simulator training according to Boeing
These messages were revealed by American parliamentarians who are investigating the 737 MAX homologation procedure, in which two close-by accidents killed 346 people. "Some of these communications relate to the development and qualification of Boeing 737 MAX simulators in 2017 and 2018," reacted Boeing, adding that they had transmitted them to parliamentarians for the sake of "transparency". He added: "Some of these communications contain provocative language and, in some cases, raise questions about Boeing's interactions with the FAA and the simulator qualification process."
When the 737 MAX was certified in May 2017, Boeing managed to convince the American authorities that the pilots did not need simulator training and that a computer upgrade was sufficient. One of the commercial arguments of Boeing to sell the MAX to the airlines was that they would save money because there would be no need to specially train pilots used to the 737 NG, according to a promotion brochure.
The 737 MAX nailed to the ground since March 13
The harsh tone of exchanges addressed to parliamentarians is a new headache for Boeing and risks further complicating already strained relations with the FAA, supposed to lift the ban on the 737 MAX, nailed to the ground since March 13 through the world. These emails “are incredibly overwhelming. They sketch a disturbing picture of what Boeing was apparently ready to do to avoid scrutiny by regulators, crews and passengers, "lambasted Peter DeFazio, (Democratic) chairman of the House Transport Committee representatives.
"They show a coordinated effort from the first days of the 737 MAX program to hide important information from regulators and the general public," the elected official said in a press release. "We regret the content of these communications, and apologize to the Congress FAA, client airlines and passengers," Boeing concluded on Thursday. The MCAS anti-stall system has been implicated in both accidents and Boeing is currently working on modifications required by the FAA.
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