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What was supposed to be the climax of Boeing’s business turned into a nightmare, especially for those left behind after two fatal accidents nearly two years ago. The Boeing 737 Max was also dropped at the center of a controversy that, unsurprisingly, included scandals that made its way to the FAA. The company’s entire fleet has been grounded around the world for nearly two years but, after a successful and thankfully uneventful test flight last week, the 737 Max returned to the skies in what will be remembered as its first commercial flight since 2019.
It’s easy enough to blame the software, the MCAS or Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System that the company developed specifically for the 737 Max, for the accidents. However, it turned out that human nature was really at the center of the problem. It may be history now, but it remains a gruesome reminder of the dangers that arise from even the slightest carelessness.
For its part, Boeing has been working to correct errors in both the software and hardware of the planes so that they fly again as soon as possible. Of course, airlines are also eager to get their fleets back in service, as they have been incurring losses on their investments on the ground. First to take the risk was Brazil’s largest airline Gol, which carried a handful of passengers from Sau Paulo to Porto Alegre on Wednesday.
However, you will not be alone, as American Airlines and Southwest Airlines are preparing to return their 737 Max aircraft to service in the coming months. However, they will have to handle it carefully, when it comes to customer relationships. Gol is allowing passengers to change their tickets if they don’t want to be on a 737 Max flight, but some of those who took the first flight of the plane did not know they were flying one.
The slow progress in returning the 737 Max to active service is due in part to the new training required for the pilots flying the aircraft, something that was seriously lacking in the first iteration of the 737 Max that led to the fatal accidents. There will undoubtedly be some fear and apprehension on the part of the passengers despite the intense scrutiny the models received.
