newsinsightplus.com
- 1.8bn
- 2.5bn
- March 17, 2024
- 0 Comments
BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityBusinessMarket DataEconomyYour MoneyCompaniesTechnology of BusinessCEO SecretsArtificial IntelligenceBoeing: How much trouble is the company in?Published1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Alaska AirlinesImage caption, January’s mid-air blowout involved an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9, such as this oneBy Theo LeggettBusiness correspondent, BBC News”It’s as if I’m watching a troubled child” is how Captain Dennis Tajer describes flying a Boeing 737 Max.The head of the Allied Pilots Association, the pilots union for American Airlines, insists he would never board an aircraft if it were not safe. But he says he can no longer take the quality of the plane he’s flying for granted.”I’m at an alert status that I’ve never had to be in on a Boeing airplane,” he says.”Because I don’t trust that they’ve followed the processes that have previously kept me safe on Boeing airplanes for over three decades.”Executives at the aerospace giant’s shiny new headquarters in Arlington, Virginia could be forgiven for feeling like they are under siege.Every day seems to bring more bad headlines for the company, which is coming under pressure from regulators and airlines, and has seen its reputation badly damaged.The trouble began in January, when a disused emergency exit door blew off a brand new Boeing 737 Max shortly after take-off from Portland International Airport.An initial report from the US National Transportation Safety Board concluded that four bolts meant to attach the door securely to the aircraft had not been fitted.Boeing is reportedly facing a criminal investigation into the incident itself, as well as legal action from passengers aboard the plane.Image source, Dennis TajerImage caption, Captain Dennis Tajer says he’s “at an alert status that I’ve never had to be in on a Boeing airplane”But although no-one was seriously hurt, the affair had much wider repercussions. It cast a harsh spotlight on the aerospace giant’s corporate culture and attitude to safety.Five years ago Boeing faced one of the biggest scandals in its history, after two brand new 737 Max planes were lost in almost identical accidents that cost 346 lives.The cause was flawed flight control software, details of which it was accused of deliberately concealing from regulators. The company, which agreed to pay $2.5bn (£1.8bn) to settle fraud charges, and admitted wrongdoing, faced widespread accusations that it had put profits ahead of passengers’ lives. It reaffirmed its commitment to safety, and in early 2020 its newly appointed chief executive Dave Calhoun promised it could “do better. Much better.”Yet the scrutiny that followed the incident in January this year has called that commitment into question.Addressing those concerns, in January 2023 chief executive Dave Calhoun said: “We will go slow, we will not rush the system and we will take our time to do it right.”Boeing’s mid-air blowout puts safety record in spotlight againMid-flight blowout a big problem for BoeingEarlier this month the US regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration, said that a six-week audit of the 737 Max production process at Boeing and its supplier Spirit Aerosystems had found “multiple instances where the companies failed to comply with manufacturing quality control requirements”.The findings came shortly after another report into Boeing’s safety culture by an expert panel found a “disconnect” between senior management and regular staff, as well as signs that staff were hesitant about reporting problems for fear of retaliation.Adam Dickson, a former senior manager at Boeing who once worked on the 737 Max programme, agrees there is a gulf between executives and workers on the factory floor.”The culture at Boeing has been toxic to trust for over a decade now,” he says.”You can add safety steps, you can add procedures. But the fundamental issue of distrust makes those changes almost ineffective”, he claims.Meanwhile, further evidence of how production problems could endanger safety emerged this week. The FAA warned that improperly installed wiring bundles on 737 Max planes could become damaged, leading to controls on the wings deploying unexpectedly, and making the aircraft start to roll.If not addressed, it said, this “could result in loss of control of the airplane”. Hundreds of planes already in service will have to be checked as a result. Boeing said based on the FAA audit it was continuing “to implement immediate changes and develop a comprehensive action plan to strengthen safety and quality, and build the confidence of our customers and their passengers.”Image source, EPAImage caption, A recent report found a “disconnect” between Boeing senior management and regular staffBut concerns about Boeing’s production standards are far from new.Whistleblower John Barnett, who was found dead last weekend, had worked at Boeing’s factory in South Carolina from 2010 until his retirement in 2017.A quality manager on the 787 Dreamliner programme, he had claimed the rush to build planes as quickly as possible in order to maximise profits had led to unsafe practices.Among a number of allegations, he told the BBC that in some cases under-pressure workers had deliberately fitted substandard parts to planes on the production line.Boeing denied his claims. But his untimely death, which occurred between legal hearings in a lawsuit against the company, has focused new attention on them.The crisis at the aerospace giant is now causing problems for airlines.Ryanair has warned that delays to new aircraft deliveries will push up prices for passengers in Europe this summer. The US carrier Southwest plans to cut its capacity this year because it can’t get hold of the planes it needs.This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: ‘Trip from hell’: On board flight during mid-air blowoutSome carriers may try to obtain Airbus models to replace the lost Boeings. But a wholesale transfer of orders from the American manufacturer to the European is simply impractical.Both have very full order books. Airbus has a backlog of more than 8,000 planes and Boeing more than 6,000. Airlines are already having to wait longer than they would like for new aircraft. Airbus has had its own supply chain problems, leading to late deliveries. There is a potential third player. The Chinese manufacturer Comac has developed the C919, a plane designed to compete with the 737 Max and the A320 neo.But that programme is still in its infancy. By 2028 it will be producing only 150 aircraft a year.In other words, the market needs Boeing to be healthy, and to overcome its current problems quickly. So can that happen?According to Ed Pierson, executive director at the Foundation for Aviation Safety, the issues involved are complex, but fixable.Himself a former Boeing whistleblower, he has spent years lobbying regulators to take a firm approach to the company.”Boeing, their suppliers, airlines, and government agencies are capable of overcoming these challenges, but the first step in fixing these problems is being honest,” he says”They need to admit these problems exist and stop trying to spin the truth. The more they spin, the longer it takes to solve the problems and the greater the risk.”Boeing says that over the last several years, it has “never hesitated to slow down, to halt production, or to stop deliveries to take the time we need to get things right.”. It added that it has launched a “Speak Up” programme encouraging staff to raise issues that need to be addressed.Related TopicsCompaniesBoeing 737 Max 8Aviation accidents and incidentsBoeingAviation safetyInternational BusinessMore on this storyBoeing’s mid-air blowout puts safety record in spotlight againPublished14 JanuaryMid-flight blowout a big problem for BoeingPublished8 JanuaryTop Stories’He will come back’ – Israeli hostage families cling to hope, and demand a dealPublished3 hours agoCouncils told to consider residents’ support of LTNsPublished3 hours agoIceland volcano lava nears Grindavik in new eruptionPublished1 hour agoFeatures’He will come back’ – Israeli hostage families cling to hope, and demand a dealThe Papers: ‘Shapps missile threat’ and ‘Strictly stars summit’Game of Thrones creators: Why we swapped dragons for aliens in new showHow much trouble is Boeing in?’I got my first death threat before I was elected’What it’s like styling Zendaya for a red carpetAs notorious death row closes, inmates fear what awaits in new prisonsThe bomb scare, the police and the drag queenIdris Elba ‘dreams big’ with West African eco-city planElsewhere on the BBCFrom the largest ship to disasters on deck…A closer look at times when cruise ships have caused commotionAttributioniPlayer’It was a song that broke all the rules’The epic story behind Bohemian Rhapsody, featuring Brian May and Roger TaylorAttributioniPlayerExploring the mysterious deaths of Nazi fugitivesThree brothers investigate whether a family connection may explain the truthAttributioniPlayerCan new evidence solve aviation’s greatest mystery?Ten years after the Malaysian Airlines flight disappeared, new technology may explain whyAttributioniPlayerMost Read1How much trouble is Boeing in?2’Shapps missile threat’ and ‘Strictly stars summit’3Derek Thompson’s Casualty exits after 38 years4Councils told to consider residents’ support of LTNs5Game of Thrones creators: Why we swapped dragons for aliens in new show6Iceland volcano lava nears Grindavik in new eruption7’Unprecedented’ M25 closures enter third day8Shapps abandoned Ukraine trip over security – MoD9’I got my first death threat before I was elected’10Ed Davey calls for ‘once in generation’ election
[ad_1] The US plane giant is under pressure from regulators and airlines, and its reputation is badly damaged.
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaTrump calls on Alabama to protect IVF treatment after court rulingPublished3 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsUS election 2024Image source, EPABy Lisa LambertBBC News, WashingtonDonald Trump has said he supports the availability of IVF treatment, joining a growing number of Republicans who are seeking to distance themselves from an Alabama court ruling on the issue.The state’s top court ruled last week that frozen embryos have the same rights as children and people can be held liable for destroying them.At least three clinics paused IVF treatment in the wake of the ruling.On Friday, Mr Trump called on lawmakers to find “an immediate solution”.”We want to make it easier for mothers and fathers to have babies, not harder! That includes supporting the availability of fertility treatments like IVF in every State in America,” the former president wrote on his Truth Social platform.”[Like] the VAST MAJORITY of Republicans, Conservatives, Christians, and Pro-Life Americans, I strongly support the availability of IVF for couples who are trying to have a precious baby,” he added.His comments were his first on the issue, and signalled his opposition to a ruling which some Republicans fear could harm them electorally by hindering plans to win back suburban women as well as swing voters.What does Alabama ruling mean for fertility patients?IVF row an election-year political bombshellMr Trump is the front-runner to win the Republican nomination for November’s election and arguably the leading voice in the party. In a further sign of the party’s efforts to distance itself from the Alabama ruling, the National Republican Senate Committee, which helps members get elected to Congress, sent out a memo to candidates on Friday which directed them to express support for IVF and “campaign on increasing access” to the treatment. “There are zero Republican Senate candidates who support efforts to restrict access to fertility treatments,” the committee’s executive director, Jason Thielman, wrote in the memo which was obtained by the BBC’s US partner CBS.The memo also cited polling that claimed access to IVF is overwhelmingly popular.A number of Senate candidates, including Kari Lake in Arizona, came out to publicly support access to the treatment after the memo was circulated.Mr Trump’s only challenger for the Republican nomination, Nikki Haley, initially appeared to back the ruling after she said she considers frozen embryos to be babies. She later denied that she supported the court’s decision.While the Alabama ruling does not ban or restrict IVF, several medical providers in the state cited fears of legal repercussions as they paused fertility services in recent days.It was made by the state’s Supreme Court and all of its justices are Republican.Democrats are already depicting the Alabama case as what they see as a portent of further assaults on women’s rights if their rivals make headway in the coming general election.Mr Biden said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that the Alabama decision was only possible because of the 2022 ruling by the US Supreme Court – which has three Trump appointees – to nullify abortion rights.While many conservatives celebrated the end of Roe v Wade, it proved a potent get-out-the-vote motivator for Democrats and a messaging nightmare for Republicans.Related TopicsUS election 2024AlabamaDonald TrumpUnited StatesMore on this storyAlabama IVF row an election-year political bombshellPublished10 hours agoWhat does Alabama ruling mean for fertility patients?Published1 day agoTop StoriesWW2 bomb taken through city and out to seaPublished46 minutes agoTrump calls on Alabama to protect IVF treatmentPublished3 minutes agoSpanish police search gutted flats after nine killedPublished13 minutes agoFeaturesWhy jet streams mean ‘piggy-backing’ planes can fly across the Atlantic faster. VideoWhy jet streams mean ‘piggy-backing’ planes can fly across the Atlantic fasterAttributionWeatherFrom crying in the toilets to cycling world titlesFrontline medics count cost of two years of Ukraine warWhat are the sanctions on Russia and are they working?Special year ahead for R&B, says new 1Xtra hostFirst private Moon mission marks new era for space travelThe young Bollywood star taking on HollywoodListen: No Return for Shamima Begum. AudioListen: No Return for Shamima BegumAttributionSoundsThe ‘mind-bending’ bionic arm powered by AIElsewhere on the BBCHow are jelly beans made?Gregg Wallace visits a Dublin factory that makes over ten million of the sweets per day!AttributioniPlayerThe good, the bad and the bafflingWhen the British public leave a review, they almost always write something hilariousAttributionSoundsFrom the largest ship to disasters on deck…A closer look at times when cruise ships have caused commotionAttributioniPlayerHow did a booming computer manufacturer go bust?Commodore computers were huge in the 1980s, so why couldn’t the business adapt and survive?AttributionSoundsMost Read1WW2 bomb taken through city and out to sea2Trump calls on Alabama to protect IVF treatment3US tracks high-altitude balloon spotted over Colorado4Crash teen’s mum wants new driver rules tightened5Cat killer found guilty of murdering man6Body found in Thames confirmed as Clapham suspect7Shamima Begum loses bid to regain UK citizenship8Ex-Post Office boss Paula Vennells stripped of CBE9Navalny’s mother ‘given hours to agree to secret burial’10Germany legalises cannabis, but makes it hard to buy](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/DDBA/production/_132726765_gettyimages-2023793824.jpg)
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaUNRWA: Gaza aid agency says it is ‘extremely desperate’ after funding haltedPublished11 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsIsrael-Gaza warImage source, EPAImage caption, UNRWA has been distributing flour to Palestinians in GazaBy Robert PlummerBBC NewsMore countries have halted funding to the largest UN agency operating in Gaza, as the crisis deepens over the alleged role of some staff in the 7 October Hamas attacks on Israel.Japan and Austria said they were suspending payments to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.The US, UK, Germany and Italy are also among those who have suspended funding.UNRWA has told the BBC it is “extremely desperate” and that “the humanitarian needs in Gaza are growing by the hour”.The agency has sacked several of its staff over allegations they were involved on 7 October, when Hamas gunmen infiltrated Israel, killing about 1,300 people – mainly civilians – and taking about 250 others back to Gaza as hostages.More than 26,000 people – mostly women and children – have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched a major military operation in response, the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry says. Another 1.7 million people have fled their homes, with many of them sheltering at UNRWA facilities.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said he is “horrified” by the accusations, but has appealed to donor countries to “guarantee the continuity of UNRWA’s operations”.In a statement on Sunday, he said: “Of the 12 people implicated, nine were immediately identified and terminated by the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini; one is confirmed dead and the identity of the two others is being clarified.”But he said Gaza should not be penalised.An UNRWA spokesperson said that if funding was not resumed, the agency would not be able to continue its operations beyond the end of February.Announcing its decision to suspend payment, Japan’s foreign ministry said late on Sunday that it was “extremely concerned about the alleged involvement of UNRWA staff members in the terror attack on Israel”.It added that it had been “strongly urging” UNRWA to investigate the allegations “in a prompt and complete manner”.Japan is the sixth-largest donor to the agency, according to UNRWA’s 2022 figures.On Monday, Austria said it was following suit, calling for “a comprehensive, swift and complete investigation into the allegations”.Juliette Touma, the director of communications at UNRWA, said in a BBC interview that the allegations were “extremely serious” and that Mr Lazzarini had taken an “extraordinary measure” in immediately dismissing the staff members in question.”We are extremely desperate. It has come at a time when the humanitarian needs in Gaza are growing by the hour,” she said, adding that she had visited the territory herself last week.”People continue to be displaced. People are hungry. The clock is ticking fast towards famine. “We are doing everything possible to avert us from getting towards famine. But this lack of funding that we have been faced with now, when at least 10 of the largest donors have put a temporary pause on the funding, this is going to have very, very serious repercussions on what is, right now, the largest humanitarian operation in Gaza.”She said UNRWA had not seen the evidence, but the allegations were being investigated by the UN’s oversight office in New York.On Friday, an adviser to the Israeli prime minister told the BBC that the 7 October Hamas attacks had involved “people who are on their [UNRWA] salaries”.Mark Regev said there was also information showing teachers working in UNRWA schools had “openly celebrated” the 7 October attacks.Related TopicsIsrael & the PalestiniansIsrael-Gaza warPalestinian territoriesUnited NationsHamasMore on this storyKey UN Gaza aid agency runs into diplomatic stormPublished21 hours agoTop StoriesLive. Iran denies involvement in drone strike that killed three US troopsDisposable vapes to be banned over fears for children’s healthPublished25 minutes agoNottingham victim’s parents ‘horrified’ at lack of inquiry Published1 hour agoFeaturesTrain strikes: All you need to knowElection poll tracker: How do the parties compare?Key UN Gaza aid agency runs into diplomatic storm’We drove home with empty baby seat’ – NHS trust accused of avoidable infant deaths When will the Bank start to cut interest rates?Death of US troops ratchets up pressure on BidenBBC confronts man who abused boy in secretive Christian church’It’s a dream come true to work with Zayn Malik’The bus route that costs £124 per passengerElsewhere on the BBC’One of the best-known artefacts from ancient Egypt’Discover the woman who inspired the Bust of NefertitiAttributionSoundsThe sound effect that became the ultimate movie in-jokeIt’s used in everything from Toy Story to Reservoir Dogs, but what is the Wilhelm Scream?AttributioniPlayerWhat holds us back from exercising as we age?James Gallagher explores the mental and physical barriers that may stop usAttributionSoundsThe surprising health benefits of doing the plankMichael Mosley explores whether it outshines crunches or sit-ups…AttributionSoundsMost Read1Fridge-carrying marathon runner stopped by police2Body of baby girl found in pub toilet3Woman dies after being struck by bus in London4The bus route that costs £124 per passenger5Japan Moon lander wakes up and resumes mission6Man paralysed in cold water swim warns of dangers7Footballer Kyle Walker: I’m sorry for my actions8Nottingham stab victim’s parents call for inquiry9Disposable vapes to be banned for child health10Death in the Channel – what led a boy to make fatal journey?](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/1055D/production/_132490966_tv091511711.jpg)
