Bad news in the Multipack for Boeing

The otherwise very controlled Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg gave a few days ago a rare glimpse into his private life. He live by the "herzzerreissendste" Phase of his career in the U.S. aviation group, he said. Muilenburg referred to the two crashes of Boeing 737 MAX, for which a total of 346 people were killed.

But the situation is not only because of the deaths are heart-breaking, in the case of Boeing, much by must be lit. All because of the 737 MAX, which may not be currently flying in the world, and Boeing costs a lot of money, such as the on Wednesday published a report for the first quarter of 2019 has made it clear.

The iceberg is large

there are also problems elsewhere: The "New York Times" reported on serious quality defects in the production of the long-aircraft 787 range at the plant in Charleston, South Carolina, the Boeing apparently for some time no longer in the grip. And in March, the U.S. air force had refused for the second Time to take tankers of the type KC-46 out of the Everett factory. Inspectors found prior to acceptance of the tools, which had left workers apparently are. "Imagine this as the second tip of the same iceberg," says Roper, head of Purchasing for the Air Force Wants.

Video: crash of a bearer of hope The Boeing 737 MAX was once regarded as a machine with great potential. Video: Tamedia/Wibbitz

the iceberg is very large, and even more tips are to find, is a concern that is of concern to investors, customers, and suppliers currently. Superficially, the cases of MAX, 787 and KC-46 to each other. In the case of the MAX, Boeing has introduced a new Software, the flight control affected, and it passed, apparently in error, which contributed presumed to two crashes. In the case of the 787, and on the civilian aircraft 767-based KC-46, it comes to inaccuracies in the production. However, all three cases, the question of whether Boeing has a cultural Problem that promoted the events. The question of whether the pressure to maximize profits has become so great that the actually necessary caution in development and production is not always observed.

The "New York Times"report came in for Boeing on the worst possible time. The newspaper spoke to about a dozen current and former Boeing employees, their reports throw a devastating light on the plant in Charleston. So customers will have in several of the Jets prior to delivery in the critical areas of metal shavings discovered that shrapnel had been found in the vicinity of wires that belong to the flight control. It's faulty parts were installed. Also, the US aviation authority the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that it had found Reviews of metal shavings in the aircraft, which has already been used by Boeing released.

The group itself to fight solid: The report heat old stories and rumors that would have been done long ago, so the factory boss Brad Zaback, in a Letter to employees. Boeing's Commercial boss Kevin McAllister said that he was "proud of the exceptional dedication of our Teams for quality". He'll stand behind their work.

By the current crisis also seems to be the traditionally good relationship between Boeing and its investors.

Boeing had transferred a part of the 787 production in the Everett factory in Washington state where the large aircraft are traditionally built into the cost-effective Charleston. The Region has, but not nearly the Tradition and Expertise in the aircraft industry, Washington has developed for decades by Boeing and the many suppliers who have also settled on the ground. To find qualified employees, the knowledge, such as security small quality are critical bugs in the air travel, was more difficult than in a traditional centre of the industry.

By the current crisis also seems to be the traditionally good relationship between Boeing and its investors. In front of the on Monday in Chicago to be held shareholders meeting of the Pensions and Investors Research Consultants (PIRCS), the shareholders are asking for advice, Muilenburg should be taken out of the Post of the Chairman. He should concentrate as Chairman of the Board on corporate governance and the management of the Board of Directors an independent Chairman. Other shareholder representatives, such as the Institutional Shareholder Service (ISS), requested only in the case of Muilenburgs successor, the Items should be separated in terms of personnel. The service warned that if the current problems were not solved, could have a "devastating effect on the business prospects of the company , its brand and reputation".

images: security update for the Max 737 (March 2019)

Finally, the Max-program should be in 2019 actually have the revenue and the most profitable program of the group. Boeing cashed in on the Wednesday the forecast for the year and will then provide the investors with a new, if it is clear what the 737 Max will fly. In the first quarter, sales in the civil business, slumped by nine per cent to 11.8 billion dollars and the operating profit by 17 percent to 1.1 billion dollars. The Figures for the second quarter is likely to be significantly worse, because the Max-flight ban is only since the middle of March. Even optimists assume that the machine may only fly again in the third quarter.

The Muilenburg-controlled Board of Directors has already decided of its own steps. Boeing has established a panel of independent experts to investigate will be developed, how the group works, in particular aircraft. The recommendations should then be incorporated into new structures and procedures. Time is of the essence. Boeing is immediately before the beginning of the flight of the new 777X attempts, the latest Generation of the successful long-haul aircraft. And actually, the group should announce in June at the Aerosalon Le Bourget more Details on the planned New Mid-Market Airplane, to be located between the 737 Max and the 787. If it comes to that, is now questionable. (Editorial Tamedia)

Created: 24.04.2019, 14:47 PM