I predicted in early 2019 that the 737 MAX wouldn’t fly in 2019, based on my engineering and commercial pilot rating experience.
I was right, and most other pundits were very wrong.
Boeing took a $5 billion loss in 2019 after parking 400 aircraft and fired their CEO, as well as the manager for pilot training.
However, Boeing must be a truly dysfunctional organization to still not be ready to fly as we approach March 2020.
What’s interesting is that since Boeing said a sim wouldn’t be needed, there basically aren’t any available globally in 2020.
Additionally, more problems have been found, including wire harness chafing and FOD in fuel tanks. If the FAA decides those issues must be fixed, there’s a small but non-zero chance those 400 parked planes will be scrapped.
Boeing is an enviable position where the US military and world airlines need them, but that’s in spite of Boeing management, not because of it.
