Boeing's 737 MAX Is Still A Mess
I haven't written about the engineering and business mess of Boeing for a while.
After the 2019 737 Max failures that downed two airplanes and killed all inside, the company promised to change its culture. But it has since seen several production stops for quality and flight security issues on several of its manufacturing lines. There are still undelivered 737 MAX and 787 planes mothballed on various airports around Seattle.
And now comes this:
Pete Muntean @petemuntean - 4:20 UTC · Jan 6, 2024NEW IMAGE from on board Alaska Airlines 1282 after ***part of the fuselage*** blew out mid-flight. Successful emergency return to Portland after 20 minutes in the air. 10-week-old (!) Boeing 737 Max 9. NTSB investigating.
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There is video from inside the plane as it was landing. Oxygen masks had been deployed when the plane depressurized. The women filming says that there was thankfully no one seated next to where the hull was breached. If there had been that person would likely have died.
R A W S A L E R T S @rawsalerts - 3:35 UTC · Jan 6, 2024🚨#BREAKING: Alaska Airlines Forced to Make an Emergency Landing After Large Aircraft Window Blows Out Mid-Air
A forced emergency landing was made of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 at Portland International Airport on Friday night. The flight, traveling from Portland to Ontario, California, faced severe depressurization, causing the ejection of a large window section and an unoccupied seat. This incident resulted in a child's shirt being ripped off. The Boeing 737-900/-9MAX aircraft reached a maximum altitude of 16,300 ft before safely returning to Portland International Airport. As of now, it remains unclear if anyone on board the flight was injured, as this story is still developing.
It was not just the emergency exit door that was ripped out. (Such window emergency doors only open towards the inside of the plane.) The whole section around the emergency exit door departed.
I have since learned that this was indeed the place of a special emergency exit that, when installed, opens to the outside. This is 'plugged' on lower density planes that do not need it.
That points to a serious manufacturing issue at the hull builder that had not been caught by quality control.
All passengers and the crew survived and the plane landed safely. Alaska Air has grounded its 65 strong fleet of 737 MAX 9. Other airlines should follow.
The Seattle Times has the details:
The neat rectangular hole that appeared in the fuselage was located at the position where Boeing fits a plug to seal a door opening that is not used as a door by most airlines and by no U.S. carriers.An emergency exit door is installed in that location only for jets going to low-cost carriers like Ryanair who cram in additional seats that require an extra emergency exit. Otherwise, the hole is sealed with a plug and from the inside it is covered by a sidewall so that to a passenger it looks like a normal window, not a door opening.
This plug, halfway between the over-wing exit and the door at the rear of the plane, is present only on the largest versions of the 737.
It’s fitted on the previous generation 737-900ER and the same design is on the 737 MAX 8-200, the high density version for low-cost carriers, as well as the MAX 9 and MAX 10.
It is not present on the MAX 7 or MAX 8.
"Well, the plug got pulled ..."
Just last week we also got this:
Boeing instructed customer airlines to inspect their 737 Max jets for loose bolts, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced Thursday.The request comes after the manufacturer discovered two aircraft with missing bolts in the rudder control system, raising concerns about faults across all aircraft.
“The issue identified on the particular airplane has been remedied,” Boeing told CNN in a statement. “Out of an abundance of caution, we are recommending operators inspect their 737 Max airplanes and inform us of any findings.”
Yesterday the Seattle Times also reported:
Boeing wants FAA to exempt MAX 7 from safety rules to get it in the air
Little noticed, the Federal Aviation Administration in December published a Boeing request for an exemption from key safety standards on the 737 MAX 7 — the still-uncertified smallest member of Boeing’s newest jet family.Since August, earlier models of the MAX currently flying passengers in the U.S. have had to limit use of the jet’s engine anti-ice system after Boeing discovered a defect in the system with potentially catastrophic consequences.
The flaw could cause the inlet at the front end of the pod surrounding the engine — known as a nacelle — to break and fall off.
In an August Airworthiness Directive, the FAA stated that debris from such a breakup could penetrate the fuselage, putting passengers seated at windows behind the wings in danger, and could damage the wing or tail of the plane, “which could result in loss of control of the airplane.”
...
One hopes that the FAA and Congress will finally get serious with Boeing. They must stop giving it all those lazy exceptions for issues that better (but more expensive) engineering can easily solve.
Posted by b on January 6, 2024 at 11:40 UTC | Permalink
next page »A very dear friend of the family was a WWII vet. He flew in B17s during the war. They brought him back to base every time, even after being shot to hell. He loved the plane and felt Boeing planes were the best and safest in the industry. After the war as civilian aviation took off, he would only fly commercial in a Boeing plane as he felt completely safe in one. Look at what has happened to this company now. It is just living off its legacy and the FAA overlooking safety guidelines. Absolutely Pathetic.
Posted by: Chicago Bob | Jan 6 2024 12:04 utc | 2
> FAA and Congress will finally get serious
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They are culpable co-conspirators!
Boeing and Raytheon are sacrosanct.
https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2023/09/11/rtx-pratt-whitnet-engine-defect.html
The last moat Western commercial aviation has is the IATA Standard Ground Handling Agreement. When that becomes untenable because of uncertified parts in broken supply chains Western suppliers can pack up their tent and go home.
Posted by: too scents | Jan 6 2024 12:04 utc | 3
But hey, they can make rocket engines for killing people.
Posted by: Michael A | Jan 6 2024 12:08 utc | 5
l personally having much less confidence in flight crews also since sec of air force recently stated the goal is to get aviators down to 47% white. note the lack of mention of competence
Posted by: tobyt | Jan 6 2024 12:28 utc | 6
Father of a friend was an inspector for an airline. He retired years ago in frustration at what he thought were declining standards.
Should also mention that air travel is a significant factor in climate change.
Posted by: bbpo8 | Jan 6 2024 12:35 utc | 7
The flight, traveling from Portland to Ontario, California, faced severe depressurization, causing the ejection of a large window section and an unoccupied seat.Cause and effect reversed, obviously.
These planes should be grounded permanently.
Posted by: Norwegian | Jan 6 2024 12:54 utc | 8
@bbpo8 | Jan 6 2024 12:35 utc | 7
Should also mention that air travel is a significant factor in climate change.Of course you should. It is changing here, we had -29C this morning and tomorrow will be the same. The last 2 months have been 5-6C below normal.
Posted by: Norwegian | Jan 6 2024 13:00 utc | 9
But hey, they can make rocket engines for killing people.
Posted by: Michael A | Jan 6 2024 12:08 utc | 5
____
Look on the bright side! When those rockets malfunction, the death count tends to be lower.
Posted by: malenkov | Jan 6 2024 13:03 utc | 10
@bbpo8 | Jan 6 2024 12:35 utc | 7
Should also mention that air travel is a significant factor in climate change.
Of course you should. It is changing here, we had -29C this morning and tomorrow will be the same. The last 2 months have been 5-6C below normal.
Posted by: Norwegian | Jan 6 2024 13:00 utc | 9
No such thing as Man Made Climate Change. The earth's climate has always changed in 2 billion years. But now the Elite are brainwashing the gullible Peasants that 'climate change' is their fault as they are too energy greedy and reproduce too much while the Elite fly around in their private planes.
Climate Engineering.....Social Engineering, all part of the same agenda.......yes, all man made, and deliberate.
Cheers M
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Jan 6 2024 13:48 utc | 12
the failure is not that of engineering standards decline but unholy alliance between covid 19 cellular cell shell inflamation and global homo warming.
the designer was yahoo from boeing tel aviv skunk works so we cannot rule out anti semite arabs who hate israel success
Posted by: todd l | Jan 6 2024 13:53 utc | 14
Innovation, science and research has shown that for every future fatality there are means of prevention. The Dutch 'saying, Im not crazy, I am an aeroplane,' turned out to have some sort of truth to it. For example, virtual reality is at a point where it can cause experiences that are at at a point where they can simulate or replicate the commercialised destinations we can fly to and live video techniques can give us the opportunity to talk to people from all over the world if we can get past the here and there. I for one am not for a decline in air travel immediately, since the climate change issue can be engineerred and alternative travelling means is not available for all. As slong as we can get a tax cut and talk to the head we are serving a mission to make life worth the output of its longeivity for.
Posted by: Leon Mussche | Jan 6 2024 13:55 utc | 15
the lgbt plus minus and super plus plus should be proud of this boeing max beast.
never in human huwoman hu genderfluid histry have so many races sexes and non binary non identifier types worked on such a massive non flying project.. these issues here hare here are just birth pangs of a new fallen system every day baal and moloch team gb and usa usa israel are working hard bringing all the sexes and the non sexes and hu man zombie back to terra firma below the firmament flat earth model
Posted by: todd l | Jan 6 2024 14:15 utc | 16
https://southfront.press/pdf.php?hash=197667&code=2d0fdc870588654cd1c7599139c9eb18
after reading the above and observing Boeing performance of late the question of whether or not Boeing problems are part of the de-industrialize USA governed America plan?
The FAA should do like the SEC does, order that none of the officers and directors of any company whose mismanagement threatens the economy and none of the officers and directors of supply chain companies to that threat can hold positions in any aircraft service, design or production business forever. Boeing is an important economic asset which government should protect?
Posted by: snake | Jan 6 2024 14:38 utc | 17
these issues here hare here are just birth pangs of a new fallen system every day baal and moloch team gb and usa usa israel are working hard bringing all the sexes and the non sexes and hu man zombie back to terra firma below the firmament flat earth modelPosted by: todd l | Jan 6 2024 14:15 utc | 16.
In a fracturing Babel world your prose makes perfect sense and soon we will all be talking this way!
After the war as civilian aviation took off, he would only fly commercial in a Boeing plane as he felt completely safe in one. Look at what has happened to this company now. It is just living off its legacy and the FAA overlooking safety guidelines. Absolutely Pathetic.Posted by: Chicago Bob | Jan 6 2024 12:04 utc | 2
That sums up Western civilization at this point. The natural result of letting the merchants take charge.
Since we do get to choose, I choose not to fly again.
Ever.
Posted by: juliania | Jan 6 2024 14:56 utc | 19
I always wonder how idjits regurgitating big oil/coal propaganda square it with Russia and China investing tens of billions into Arctic route and its ports - a route that for THOUSANDS of years was completely useless outside of multiple abnormally warm year periods and even then only very briefly in summers. Soon it will be open year round. It's almost as it what was abnormally warm summer became norm allowing commercial exploitation - gee, I wonder why. Putin and Xi must have been swayed by propaganda of tiny solar panel producers who can totally outspend colossal oil money and just blow the ice away with orbital lasers to fake proof it is really warming, eh?
Hello, dear imbeciles, I recently saw an article about global warming written in frakking 1958 in Warsaw Pact Poland (yes, that's SIXTY SIX years ago) - let me guess, it was written by capitalist time travelers? Or maybe, just maybe, people had a clue it was going to be issue even then, and clowns parroting fossil fuel lies debunked zillion times should wake up, Earth isn't flat, climate IS changing (and yes, it is being done by humans as Earth is warming up during deep Solar MINIMUM, which really should ring alarm bells to anyone who didn't fail elementary physics because the issue will be FAR worse when the Sun will switch trend toward Solar maximums). Here, look for yourselves: https://blabler.pl/s/PLDm
Posted by: Mr V | Jan 6 2024 14:58 utc | 20
Although if somebody very nice will transport my body by air to a certain special monastery for burial, I would not object.
Just saying.
;)
Posted by: juliania | Jan 6 2024 15:00 utc | 21
@bbpo8 | Jan 6 2024 12:35 utc | 7
Should also mention that air travel is a significant factor in climate change.
Of course you should. It is changing here, we had -29C this morning and tomorrow will be the same. The last 2 months have been 5-6C below normal.
Posted by: Norwegian | Jan 6 2024 13:00 utc | 9.
Indeed:
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/01/peter-sweden-climate-insanity-its-too-cold-electric/
This cold weather is causing trouble for public transport. You see, the city of Skellefteå where they “only” had -34C this morning, have been investing in electric busses, to save the climate of course! Their goal is to replace all diesel busses with electric as soon as possible.But…
It turns out that they are having to CANCEL almost all busses today because of the cold weather – The busses have to be parked indoors to warm up.
Colld weather is causing trouble for public transport. You see, the city of Skellefteå where they “only” had -34C this morning, have been investing in electric busses, to save the climate of course! Their goal is to replace all diesel busses with electric as soon as possible.
But…
It turns out that they are having to CANCEL almost all busses today because of the cold weather – The busses have to be parked indoors to warm up.
Posted by: Scorpion | Jan 6 2024 15:09 utc | 22
Woke policies are uninformed, emotional and worthless.
investing in electric busses
Posted by: Scorpion | Jan 6 2024 15:09 utc | 22
---
They forgot to invest in overhead wires and pantographs.
The EV battery thing is an obvious mining initiative to stake new claims and collect fresh subsidies across the globe.
Posted by: too scents | Jan 6 2024 15:14 utc | 24
juliania | Jan 6 2024 15:00 utc | 21
Which monastery?
Posted by: auximenes | Jan 6 2024 15:19 utc | 25
It is even worse, b. OMAAT reported:
The Air Current reports that the exact jet involved in this incident had some pressurization issues the previous day. On January 4, 2024, the same exact jet apparently had a pressurization warning light appear during taxi-in following a flight. The airline then decided to remove the jet from ETOPS operations (meaning the airplane couldn’t fly overwater), in line with the company’s maintenance rules. The same light appeared again later the same day while inflight.
Pressurization warnings? Simple, don't fly over water on Hawaii flights. Greed is a many splendored thing.
Posted by: upstater | Jan 6 2024 15:21 utc | 26
Posted by: Mr V | Jan 6 2024 14:58 utc | 20
Looks like some idjit failed elementary writing in school.
Posted by: JoeDontSurf | Jan 6 2024 15:24 utc | 27
Since we do get to choose, I choose not to fly again. Ever.
Posted by: juliania | Jan 6 2024 14:56 utc | 19
Reading your posts on this and other threads it is
obvious to me that you are well grounded!
Posted by: waynorinorway | Jan 6 2024 15:33 utc | 28
Boeing can only build flying coffins because engineers who can build decent airplanes must be paid decent salaries.
Posted by: CIROC | Jan 6 2024 15:38 utc | 29
its a good thing that the picture shows there was no passenger sitting in the affected seat.
oh wait.
Posted by: frkorz | Jan 6 2024 15:48 utc | 30
- This is how capitalism is destroying/devouring itself. Long live Capitalism, right ?
Posted by: Mr. Market | Jan 6 2024 15:55 utc | 31
Given the neoliberal practise of obliging college students to pay for their own education, is it possible that there's a shortage of graduates relevant to the aircraft industry? If so then manufacturers would be obliged to poach staff from each other.
Does Boeing have a training school for production engineers, quality control etc? In the 1960s many large corporations had in-house training schools.
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Jan 6 2024 15:56 utc | 32
@ CIROC | Jan 6 2024 15:38 utc | 29
---
Boeing airplanes are built by accountants, not engineers.
Furthermore through the magic of financialization airplanes have been virtualized and placed in bondage to income streams, as a glance at lessor ownership and backorders obviously shows.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_lease#Lessors
Commercial aviation is a cartel and a Ponzi scheme wrapped up together and tied with a bow.
Posted by: too scents | Jan 6 2024 15:57 utc | 33
Posted by: canuck | Jan 6 2024 15:12 utc | 23Woke policies are uninformed, emotional and worthless.
Well, first am no climate scientist but have decided that it's a globalist psyop to move the world beyond nation state sovereignty. It's also interesting to observe over time how two or more scientists reviewing the same data come to opposite conclusions, demonstrating in spades that facts are a matter of opinion and the 'scientific method' little more than just another sales pitch.
As to the woke agenda being 'uninformed, emotional and worthless': that for sure, but I think it's part of a deliberate approach designed to dumb down and disintegrate Western nations. One can wonder about why but it seems hard at this point to deny that this is being deliberately pursued.
A popular argument is that there is collective stupidity not organized conspiracy. But when all bad policies keep moving in the same direction year after year, it is reasonable to surmise there are at least some dirigiste elements.
Either way, it's all rather dispiriting and I try to go only so far into this and step away regularly into fresh air and my wife's charming anecdotes about what the dogs got up to today, or the latest neighbourhood gossip. She likes to watch videos about how the aliens are going to take over everything, so if I talk Putin, she talks Annunaki and we both enjoy delightfully surreal geopolitical banter that way.
(Mexico does surrealism really well, which is why I decided to retire here!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MIESbBnA2k Mainstream (Tucker Carlson) discussion of the collapse of Western civilization as having already happened - my view too at this point. (about 15 mins in)
I don’t know, b, maybe travel by plane is just not as secure overall as it once was.
In the Caribbean, a German-born US actor and his two daughters, died a couple days ago, in a plane crash. Along with their pilot, American Robert Sachs. Some random fishermen and recreational swimmers who just happened to be in that area (see map halfway down for specs) helped recover the bodies.
And Justin Trudeau’s plane experienced some kind of mechanical issue while he’s vacationing in Jamaica. Necessitated the delivery of a second plane.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-plane-jamaica-vacation-1.7075968
Maybe we should travel by sailboat:
Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Jan 6 2024 16:07 utc | 35
Neoliberal Caitalism at its best. Boeing used to have offices next to production lines so engineers and executives could get together and solve issues. Then management felt that they were too good for the peasants and moved to Illinois. Making stock buybacks the reason for The existence of Boeing.
To pocket more money for investors and management, Boeing executives moved some production to right-to-work (more work, less pay) state of South Carolina. Poorly paid, non-union workers supplied by management drug dealers on rhe production floor soon followed. Planes from South Carolina shipped to union workshop in Washington State to fix defects. While a national airline of a certain country refuses to accept 737 bodies from South Carolina. Give your workers sh*t pay? Get sh*t aircraft.
But hey, stock buybacks. No one goes to prison for knowingly producing a plane characterized by one Boeing worker as,
designed by clowns who in turn are supervised by monkeys
Until executives go to jail and all profits seized... Expect more 737 Max stories.
Posted by: DWF | Jan 6 2024 16:21 utc | 36
Boeing is a classic example of stripped down manufacturing. Unwilling to pay for more highly skilled staff to assemble their planes, even though they make huge profits, they sub contract the assembly process to companies that should only be allowed assemble washing machines.
Airlines are no better, in Europe, most pilots are only offered contracts if they register as self employed, saving the airlines millions as they don't have to pay for the pilots' taxes, social security or pension.
The EU's air safety is contracted out to a private company who are totally compromised.
When I or a family member have to fly, it's with aerlingus, they don't fly 737s and they look after their pilots.
Everything is going to shit in the west, I won't travel by car ferry now due to the EV fire risk. Car manufacturing is another joke too. Mechanics nowadays haven't a clue how to fix modern cars unless they have a phd in IT and Diagnostics.
It won't be too long until the horse and cart are back on the roads of Europe and the US.
Posted by: Eoin Clancy | Jan 6 2024 16:28 utc | 37
Further to my @ 35 (and @ 36, there is an eye-opening PBS frontline documentary on exactly what you’re discussing.) —
Venezuela denounces the arrival of British Navy vessel HMS Trent
https://x.com/KawsachunNews/status/1740428406989418832
Apparently, Christian Oliver’s last film was “Forever Hold Your Peace”
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/christian-oliver-completed-last-movie-before-death-1235780364/
Maybe it’s just me, but I think Ivan Marinovic’s comedy-drama of the same name - also released this year - looks more inviting:
https://youtu.be/Va8cu9hh5Ic (Link to the trailer)
Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Jan 6 2024 16:30 utc | 38
Wall Street "financialized" Boeing management, which means stripping it of all the specific knowledge of engineering, aviation and manufacturing that accumulated over the years. Boeing now has managers that might as well be running a used car business, they don't really know that they are running an aviation company. Best On The Internet Article on this matter: https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2020/02/ship-the-airplane-the-cultural-organizational-and-technical-reasons-why-boeing-cannot-recover.html
From that article: Quote: Wall Street had stripped Boeing of a leadership cadre of any intrinsic business acumen. And its leadership had no skills beyond extraordinary skills of intimidation through a mechanism of implied and explicit threats.
Empathy has no purchase in such an environment. The collapse of trust relationships between individuals within the company and, more important, between the company and its suppliers fertilized the catastrophe that now engulfs the enterprise.
From high in the company came a dictat: ship the airplane. Without empathy, there was no ability to hear cautions about the method chosen by which to ship (low-quality software). End of Quote
The people who run Boeing EXUDE contempt for regulation, law and the safety culture of aviation. They are criminals in spirit and in culture. These people can NEVER rebuild Boeing into a successful company. Screw them! And screw the America that helped transform a great company into a government sponsored terror organization whose only management tool is intimidation! When things must die, they finally do so.
Posted by: Clwydshire | Jan 6 2024 16:30 utc | 39
Expect more 737 Max stories.
Posted by: DWF | Jan 6 2024 16:21 utc | 36
---
Once Comac ramps production of the C-919 its over for the 737.
Posted by: too scents | Jan 6 2024 16:34 utc | 40
No such thing as Man Made Climate Change. The earth's climate has always changed in 2 billion years. But now the Elite are brainwashing the gullible Peasants that 'climate change' is their fault as they are too energy greedy and reproduce too much while the Elite fly around in their private planes.
Posted by: canuck | Jan 6 2024 13:43 utc | 11
I think you're partially right. Climate, really all change, is just the nature of matter. But, the ruling class being permitted to wantonly pollute the globe for their personal profit from the industrial revolution forward certainly has resulted in a destruction of the environment, species and harsher weather patterns. Not to mention the environmental destruction wrought by the US military, which actually is not ever mentioned in the MSM.
On the other hand and to your point, I have noticed a curious phenom in how "climate change" is reported and used by the RC. Every rain storm in California is now treated as a panic inducing emergency. Even typical winter rain is a cause for the stimulation of panic over climate change.
Infrastructure in the US is old, in most cases it was built just after WW2 for a smaller population, if your lucky. The levies here were built by the Chinese over a hundred years ago. There has been no real updating of the infrastructure. All that money goes to war or is retained by the billionaires.
It seems clear that "climate change" is used as a catch all excuse by the RC every time it's ancient infrastructure breaks down. It happens repeatedly, but the infrastructure is never really updated. Instead, the plan seems to be scream "climate change" early and often before any and all weather events. This is useful as it moves the blame to some larger god like force and drives people to vote for politicians who also scream "climate change" aka Dems. It also helps to convince the wage slaves to get used to having less.
In reality, the RC couldn't care less about the environment. It initiates war after polluting war, rides on private planes, eats all the steak wants, pollutes rivers and the sea with it's industrial waste so as to boost profits, etc.
It's a bit like "racism" a vague, rhetorical boogieman that the ruling class couldn't in truth give a shit about, but is useful for scaring the wage slaves and making them accept the decline of the living standards of their country.
In Capitalism, it's clear that he who pollutes saves money and thus increases profit. It is a global game that rewards the most destructive with greater wealth and power.
It is particularly upsetting to hear the average wage slaves take the blame for "climate change", when they do not decide a single thing that matters. They all live in a world created by a very small elite group in it's interests. Climate change to the extent it's true is absolutely the fault of those with all the power and wealth. Not the slaves, but the masters. If your upset about it focus your ire there.
Greta et al are just props for a ruling class policy. The only solution to climate change, racism, etc is a social revolution ousting the ruling class and the system that permits their existence. Only then can anything be done about any of the major social problems confronted by mankind today.
Israel delenda est and smash the Ukronazis!
Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Jan 6 2024 16:50 utc | 41
I think that Elon Musk identified the problem that is generally omnipresent in all industries. Too many people who do nothing and too few who do something.
Posted by: ForWhomTheBellTolls | Jan 6 2024 16:55 utc | 42
Now on that X/Twitter page with the video there's a real comedy gold comment:
"Problem #1: The window broke out putting all the passengers lives in danger.
Problem #2: The plane landed in Portland, Oregon, putting all the passengers lives in danger."
Posted by: Tortuosit | Jan 6 2024 17:03 utc | 43
Posted by: canuck | Jan 6 2024 15:12 utc | 23
Woke policies are uninformed, emotional and worthless.
A popular argument is that there is collective stupidity not organized conspiracy. But when all bad policies keep moving in the same direction year after year, it is reasonable to surmise there are at least some dirigiste elements.
Posted by: Scorpion | Jan 6 2024 16:05 utc | 34
It is possible to have a social movement without leadership, but with the media now so prominent, truly spontaneous movements will never get enough traction. Not that it matters because the most common pattern now is for the movement to be cooped and shifted to pushing something other than its original goals. Everything turns into fulfilling somebody's political goal. Racism is a way of getting minority votes for policies that expand the power of government, while also pushing hostility to whites. Feminism has become a way of pushing social change in ways that don't even benefit women and is mainly anti man. The religious orders are being gradually taken over. And so on.
Posted by: Jmaas | Jan 6 2024 17:17 utc | 44
"I think that Elon Musk identified the problem that is generally omnipresent in all industries."
Try getting some work done with employees younger than around 30.
There's no work ethic left. Just complain all day, give fake answers (ummm... this generation was brought up on "Truth is a social narrative"), and then just quit and ghost the employer when found out. I've had a couple who even wouldn't have the courtesy of returning the keys.
Posted by: Genocide Joe | Jan 6 2024 17:18 utc | 45
Tell me Boeing has gone all in on DEI without saying it
Posted by: Trumpeter | Jan 6 2024 17:29 utc | 46
thanks b.. shocking, but not surprising... more fall of the american empire in action..
@ juliania | Jan 6 2024 15:00 utc | 21
i take it you are not into cremation??
Posted by: james | Jan 6 2024 17:37 utc | 47
"..Well, first am no climate scientist but have decided that it's a globalist psyop to move the world beyond nation state sovereignty..." Scorpion@34
The problem with the 'globalist psyop' argument is that there hasn't been much in the way of national sovereignty for a while. And it certainly didn't take arguments about climate to produce the current, hopefully final, stage in imperialism. Look for example at the current state of western europe- there has never been such an absence of national intitiative or sovereign rights, among the emblematic nation states of the era, as there is today. Nordstream says it all, really, And then there is the pathetic caricature of sovereignty on exhibition in London- the DeGaulles, Macmillans, Diefenbakers have been replaced by 'yes men' (and of course women!) echoing the thoughts emanating from the vacuum in Washington.
The globalists organised around the WEF and other Washington Fan Clubs are not promoting regulation or even popular discussion-they are promoting the interests of the financier dominated capitalist system. They are uniformly neo-liberal and desperately opposed to national sovereignty simply because, like von Mises and Hayek before them, they fear the coming to power in nation states of popularly supported governments which will tax and regulate 'business' until they have turned the raging bull of the market place into a productive milch cow, ready to have her capacious udders emptied twice daily.
And such a government, taming the system and the tiger of 'enterprise', is the likely issue of any informed popular campaign to mitigate and govern, if not reverse, climate change.
It is one of the indications of the depth of the problems that face humanity that informed, honest and sincere commentators, such as Norwegian, for example, are wedded to a narrative, long promoted and perfected by the PR teams working for energy interests, which insists that the visibly disruptive presence of human economic activity in the environment has no effect on the climate or atmosphere and that society enhances its freedom by allowing massive corporations controlled by high finance and managed in the way that b and others portray in the case of Boeing, to pre-empt popular regulation because it is unnecessary.
The Ayn Rands of this world are not our friends, they are apologists for the oligarchy which exploits not only us but the planet in their own selfish interests; their monument is all around us in the form of a population of 8 billion most of whom are poor and getting poorer as the oligarchs concentrate more and more wealth and power in their corporate hands. It is hard to take seriously the calls for freedom and personal intiative that emanate from the heart of the oligarchy itself- the very interests that deny the rights of individuals to organise Unions or protect the electoral process from enormous wealth buying elections- and not least because we know, see Boeing above, that underneath the ruthless calculations of these interests lies an inexplicable and irrational appetite for suicide. It is as if the Capitalist class had reached the conclusion that the longest term there is any need to plan for is the period of years remaining to us as individuals, which is to say, since most of the movers and shakers are well past the full flush of youth, forty or fifty years at the very most.
After which all bets will be irrelevant since the gambler will not be around to cash in his betting slips.
Posted by: bevin | Jan 6 2024 17:42 utc | 48
Humankind, in most of the western developed countries, exists in overshoot. The resources to repair and rebuild no longer exist.
No shells, no planes; all complex systems are fraught. What about the grid and solar flares? What about the COVID jabs? Our engineering prowess is gone; nevermind we can't build a pyramid. We're looking at widespread failure of complex systems because we cannot maintain them. Necessary engineering expertise is getting replaced by cargo cult wokism. That goes for Rule of Law as well as for torquing down the bolts. Ditto for the electric buses.
I am so looking forward to the Yemeni's sinking part of the US Fleet. We will see then that the US will be unable to repair or replace the damage. Remember, the liberty ships: 5 days to build one once the systems got tweaked. That's not going to happen again.
And the British Navy? Isn't is true that the last couple carriers don't even hae functioning engines?
Posted by: oracle | Jan 6 2024 17:45 utc | 49
It is possible to have a social movement without leadership, but with the media now so prominent, truly spontaneous movements will never
..
Posted by: Jmaas | Jan 6 2024 17:17 utc | 44
Honestly, as you imply further on, I don't think it is possible. I feel that is a sort of anarchist, ultra left myth given wide currency by the Dem fake left agencies at American universities. This myth meets the needs of the ruling class quite well. It allows radicalized students to blow off some steam, feel like revolutionaries, strike the pose, but without leadership the RC knows it has no strategy, no tactics and no program. Like going to war without guns because they are evil. You'll lose every time.
In truth, every social movement has leadership. If a mass movement appears spontaneous and without leadership in the US, it is led by the ruling class aka astro turf.
Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Jan 6 2024 17:47 utc | 50
You would think with all the cash Boeing is making with the wars of the past 20+ years, they could spare the extra $$ required to save human lives along with their own reputation.
But then again, when your business model is also based on the very destruction of human life, and you operate in an culture of corporate and governmental impunity... some choice words by Nate Diaz come to mind, mofos.
Posted by: Rubiconned | Jan 6 2024 17:51 utc | 51
@bevin | Jan 6 2024 17:42 utc | 48
It is one of the indications of the depth of the problems that face humanity that informed, honest and sincere commentators, such as Norwegian, for example, are wedded to a narrative, long promoted and perfected by the PR teams working for energy interests, which insists that the visibly disruptive presence of human economic activity in the environment has no effect on the climate or atmosphere and that society enhances its freedom by allowing massive corporations controlled by high finance and managed in the way that b and others portray in the case of Boeing, to pre-empt popular regulation because it is unnecessary.Now that is an elegant attempt at character assassination, I give you that. I simply uphold the scientific null hypothesis, namely that human activity has no measurable effect on the Earth's climate. Prove this wrong, or stick to your narrative.
Your serve was returned.
Posted by: Norwegian | Jan 6 2024 17:52 utc | 52
human activity has no measurable effect on the Earth's climate. Prove this wrong
Posted by: Norwegian | Jan 6 2024 17:52 utc | 52
---
I will step up and answer for bevin.
If climate includes background radiation then human activity certainly has had a measurable effect. The Anthropocene dates from the sudden increase radioisotopes in the geological record that occurred when humans split the atom.
That increase drives iron salvage for material that pre-dates WWII.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-background_steel
Posted by: too scents | Jan 6 2024 18:04 utc | 53
I happened to see a presentation about the Boing MAX 8 planes at a software conference 18 months ago (NDC TechTown 2022). I forgot the name of the presenter, he was American. It was essentially a walk through of all the issues that b has presented here.
Posted by: Norwegian | Jan 6 2024 18:06 utc | 54
@Norwegian | Jan 6 2024 18:06 utc | 54
Search engines still work to some degree. Here is the one hour presentation in the Boeing 737 MAX, the presenter was Kyle Kotowick
The Boeing 737 MAX: When Humans and Technology Don't Mix - Kyle Kotowick - NDC TechTown 2022
It is a 1 hour presentation, recommended. I will watch it again.
Posted by: Norwegian | Jan 6 2024 18:10 utc | 55
FAA grounds 171 Boeing planes after mid-air blowout - BBC
Not a longer grounding but for inspection which will take 4 to 8 hours per plane.
Boeing should just claim that its planes are "safe and effective" and get its own managers to run the FAA. That way they will make a killing.
Posted by: campbell | Jan 6 2024 18:46 utc | 57
Posted by: todd l | Jan 6 2024 14:15 utc | 16
I guess the diversity of people hasn't changed. 'Divide and rule' has only required new subgroups.
After all, sexual orientation doesn't really unite, ask a heterosexual KKK member.
No, aeroplanes are now apparently developed like software.
Quality assurance is done by the end user. I don't even want to talk about the software.
Posted by: 600w | Jan 6 2024 18:52 utc | 58
@Genocide Joe
I agree. And as time passes it will be tougher and tougher. It will not be a pretty site to behold.
Posted by: ForWhomTheBellTolls | Jan 6 2024 18:55 utc | 59
I simply uphold the scientific null hypothesis, namely that human activity has no measurable effect on the Earth's climate. Prove this wrong, or stick to your narrative.
Posted by: Norwegian | Jan 6 2024 17:52 utc | 52
----------------------------------------------------------------------
There is plenty of science that proves that human activity effects climate, and also contributes to air pollution, diseases, and water contamination. Never mind the destruction of animal habitats, causing the rapid extinction of mammals, insects, birds, and fish via the destruction of coral reefs. Does anyone really want to deny that the planet is plagued by these maladies? Such a person would be a fool.
Of course, a scientist working for an oil company ignores such science if they want to keep their lucrative jobs: They are expected to practice and promote corporate science, like the cigarette companies did for so long.
But mother Nature has the final say, regardless of whos science one chooses to promote.
Posted by: Ed | Jan 6 2024 19:07 utc | 60
To all above who want to turn this story into their favorite talking point..this story is about more than an inflight mishap, however, it's not about all that is under the sun.
This is about an an American company, once venerable, once innovative, once a leader in aerospace. This is about how US/western corporate governance and government oversight have gone off the rails. It's about how governance of engineering firms has been ceded to scientific illiterates who now lord over the fields of law, economics, finance, humanities and politics. How those skilled in science, the application of science, manufacturing and logistics are largely excluded from decision making in matters of science, the application of science, manufacturing and logistics.
The US needs to reform itself, should it collapse onto itself, as the Roman empire did, it will take, if not the entire world, a good portion of the world down with it. Criticism when it's accurate and well meant serves the greater good but, when it is banal tripe it drowns out those who have something useful to say.
It's not about your pet-peeve...no matter how legit or, how superior your writing skills are to the common man's repertoire.
Posted by: S Brennan | Jan 6 2024 19:09 utc | 61
Posted by: Norwegian | Jan 6 2024 17:52 utc | 52
The evidence suggests that human activity does have a measurable effect on the Earth’s climate.
https://climate.nasa.gov/causes/
https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/chapter/chapter-3/
Of course climate change is not a novel phenomenon, but it would be an error to point to previous heating or cooling periods and conclude that because these events have happened historically (pre human eras) that they therefore can’t be affected by human activity.
The evidence can’t be definitive but the expert consensus suggests that human activity does have an effect on Earth, including on Earth’s climate. We have to maintain a healthy skepticism and avoid cynicism based on bias, material self-interest or dogmatic belief.
Rapid environment changes can be significant and fatal, such as going from a pressurised Boeing 737 cabin at 35,000 feet to skydiving without a parachute. Perhaps the airlines want to make the window seats less popular.
Posted by: Lev Davidovich | Jan 6 2024 19:16 utc | 62
@Genocide Joe
I agree. And as time passes it will be tougher and tougher. It will not be a pretty sight to behold.
Posted by: ForWhomTheBellTolls | Jan 6 2024 18:55 utc | 59
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I don't know if you are new to the MoA site, if so Welcome! As a courtesy to the rest of us, please provide the information [Joe Blow Jan 6 2024 18:55 utc | 59] so that we can read the comment that you are responding to. Thank you.
Posted by: Ed | Jan 6 2024 19:17 utc | 63
This kind of news is what we used to expect from third world countries.
Posted by: Passerby | Jan 6 2024 19:19 utc | 64
Iirc Trump was threatening to cancel Boeing's Air Force One contract just before his inauguration. Apparently they hadn't donated to his "self-funded" campaign, which they corrected by donating to his inauguration celebrations. He spent the rest of his presidency covering for them especially after the two MAX plane crashes on his watch. Do I remember correctly?
Posted by: Delhiliterally | Jan 6 2024 19:32 utc | 65
My curiosity about the actual planes being grounded led me to this:
FAA Statement on Temporary Grounding of Certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 Aircraft
Saturday, January 6, 2024The FAA will order the temporary grounding of certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft operated by U.S. airlines or in U.S. territory.
“The FAA is requiring immediate inspections of certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes before they can return to flight,” FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said. “Safety will continue to drive our decision-making as we assist the NTSB’s investigation into Alaska Airlines Flight 1282.”
The Emergency Airworthiness Directive (EAD) that will be issued shortly will require operators to inspect aircraft before further flight that do not meet the inspection cycles specified in the EAD. The required inspections will take around four to eight hours per aircraft.
The EAD will affect approximately 171 airplanes worldwide.https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-statement-temporary-grounding-certain-boeing-737-max-9-aircraft
I haven't found the EAD, nor any further information about the certain effected airframes.
Posted by: too scents | Jan 6 2024 19:36 utc | 66
Posted by: bevin | Jan 6 2024 17:42 utc | 48"..Well, first am no climate scientist but have decided that it's a globalist psyop to move the world beyond nation state sovereignty..." Scorpion@34
The problem with the 'globalist psyop' argument is that there hasn't been much in the way of national sovereignty for a while. And it certainly didn't take arguments about climate to produce the current, hopefully final, stage in imperialism.
Thanks for the response. That was a complex post and am not sure if understood every point.
A couple of minor things in reply:
The word 'psyop' is both loaded and vague and so sloppy. But there is generally a push to erode the nation state model is what was meant.
Nationalism is similarly loaded and vague. That said, I don't think all nationalisms necessarily lead to imperialism as you imply, but with most modern nation states, which I regard as kleptocracies, plutocracies or pathocracies, that happens because we have stupidly and immorally allowed those who manage money to rule the roost. Indeed, that is now so normal that most of us cannot even imagine a different pecking order. China is said to be doing things differently but that is such a complex and numerically huge polity that I cannot pretend to grasp whether it is or not.
In any case, built around a different value system, strong nationalism could result in a religious, quasi utopian state, not necessarily an Empire based on capitalist plunder.
In more simple terms, societies need to have a healthy sense of "We" or Oneness whilst also needing their members to have sufficient liberty to lead their own lives creatively and productively. So always some interplay between One and Many but favoring one side overmuch creates the sort of unhealthy extremes we see unfolding in history again and again.
At least the malfunction was manageable with a little prepper instinct.
No explosion, no fire, easy exit.
Instead of the usual hand luggage
All that remains is what's waiting below. Cold water, darkness?
Will the passengers contact lawyers?
Or the lawyers the passengers?
Posted by: 600w | Jan 6 2024 19:52 utc | 68
Posted by: bevin | Jan 6 2024 17:42 utc | 48
It is one of the indications of the depth of the problems that face humanity that informed, honest and sincere commentators, such as Norwegian, for example, are wedded to a narrative, long promoted and perfected by the PR teams working for energy interests, which insists that the visibly disruptive presence of human economic activity in the environment has no effect on the climate or atmosphere and that society enhances its freedom by allowing massive corporations controlled by high finance and managed in the way that b and others portray in the case of Boeing, to pre-empt popular regulation because it is unnecessary.
You have framed one narrative explanation but it is by no means definitive. I cannot prove it but I do not believe my opinion has been shaped by energy industry shills (who in any case benefit by raising a scarcity, not an abundance, argument). One example: the concerted push to phase out gasoline engines and replace them with electric will clearly NOT benefit the environment or climate when all the inputs are factored in. Not to mention that it isn't feasible without boosting our electric grids 3-5 times capacity. Ergo, this is not a science-driven initiative or if it is it demonstrates what I wrote above: the scientific method is not all its cracked up to be. Though it denies this, it floats on a faith-based ocean; but when you look carefully at the facts supposedly comprising that ocean you find they are all subjective opinion because no fact is of any use until a meaning has been derived from it and all meaning is subjectively inferred. There is just no way around this.
I think the big challenge is that we all have to find ways of talking to each other again without freaking or lashing out. There are many good reasons for doing so, it seems, but unfortunately it never helps and just makes things worse. I fear we are very close to losing the ability to talk across our many divides so fairly soon the West will be an entirely atomized polity held together by totalitarian kayfabe.
When the FAA formulates a filter that can describe the 171 airframes of interest it will be published as an Emergency Airworthiness Directive here ==> https://drs.faa.gov/browse/ADFREAD/doctypeDetails?Status=Current&Make=The%20Boeing%20Company
Posted by: too scents | Jan 6 2024 20:14 utc | 70
The climate change agenda is a bait-and-switch scam to turn the normal human love for nature and desire to protect it, into a cap-and-trade scam to turn the environment over to Wall Street, brought to us by Al Gore, (demon for the right, but water bearer for the ruling class), who led the US team at the Kyoto Accords in 1996, and succeeded in exempting the US military from all limits, while introducing the concepts of cap-and-trade, and carbon credits, to what was supposed to be an honest look at how to stop polluting Mother Earth. No, no, you can still pollute, you just buy carbon credits to make up for it (as explained recently by Bill Gates.)
And the scam works, very well. Not only with the self-identified left, who think that buying electric cars, and putting up windmills, but continuing to pave over the rest of the asphalt nation and having climate controlled indoor environments forever, is how you "Save the planet." Not to mention the way they protest for the “climate”, by defacing priceless art, and gluing themselves to various surfaces.
No more concern for clean water and air, no more conservation of forests and other habitat, no more concern for endangered species, no more worry about over-fished and contaminated oceans. It's all Climate Change, All The Time, baby.
But those who think they’re all smart because they have figured out it’s a scam, fall for the opposite narrative.
Continue wasting energy, cause that’s how you stick it to The Man! And Greta, of course. Stick it to Greta!
Drill, baby, drill, in the last pristine areas of our country, set off to protect endangered species. Dig pipelines. Empty aquifers to frack, dumping the contaminated water into the water supply.
Make sure that the people living in the US right now use up every last drop of oil. Solidarity with illegal aliens, who come over the border and happily dive into US over-consumption. When it comes to the Right To Waste. We’re all in this together, baby, right now.
Screw the kids! We want it all Now.
Not exactly the conservative look I remember. Conservation? Not when you’re sticking it to The Man!
And The Man sits back and snickers, because having access to pristine public land and water is exactly what he wants.
Posted by: wagelaborer | Jan 6 2024 20:23 utc | 71
without leadership the RC knows it has no strategy, no tactics and no program.
Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Jan 6 2024 17:47 utc | 50
This conflates executive leadership with thought leadership. It is the former that presents incentives orthogonal to revolutionary goals that attract the wrong sort of "leader".
A movement by definition implies a world view & doctrine. This is thought, and it can be provided by individuals, possibly even dead ones.
Hierarchies are necessary for organized action, affording efficiencies and appropriate exchange of information and directives.
Nothing in these structures demands permanent roles beyond human egos and the very 'soft' minds of followers. Formation can and should be transient in nature, meritocratic. Action x requires action group g with leadership cadre per consensus.
Posted by: robinthehood | Jan 6 2024 20:30 utc | 72
Guess they’re going to have to change the old slogan to,
“If it’s Boeing, I ain’t going.”
Posted by: Cato the Uncensored | Jan 6 2024 20:38 utc | 73
I have friend who is an old Boeing engineer in lifer specializing in autopilots when the 737s crashed who worked with the lead that compromised design decision on the sensors. I asked him if he felt pressure to cut corners or if his decision making was compromised in anyway by management. He said it was not. What is different now compared to 30 years ago, is that there were many layers of knowledgeable engineers to ask questions to if there was a difficult problem. But as these experts retired through attrition, they were never replaced to cut costs. Now, there are far fewer people who understand the issues. He also indicated that Boeing did their own certification through the FAA. He did it himself in his area and thought nothing of it.
Posted by: Turk 152 | Jan 6 2024 21:01 utc | 74
Entirely agree, bevin (48). Except that I don't think Rand was apologising in any way. She was doing her Boudicca tribute, waving a bloodied sword and cheering on the ruthless and self absorbed. If worthless feeders are only hanging on by virtue of clinging to ropes tied to the lifeboat, chop off those hands and let the lifeboat surge ahead unencumbered by the weak and vulnerable and feeble. That's Rand - screw health and safety, regulation and social justice: it is holding the winners back for the benefit of the losers. And she is the hero of today's ruling class and all free marketeers everywhere.
Posted by: Bramble | Jan 6 2024 21:01 utc | 75
Sort of in addition to what too scents posted just above.
https://www.the-sun.com/news/10027131/boeing-737-max-9-planes-grounded/ (the supermarket tabloid version)
https://archive.ph/kpHDG (the Professional Managerial Class laptop worker tabloid version)
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 6 2024 21:03 utc | 76
Imagine someone was sitting in that chair. Man, what a way to go. Basically my personal nightmare scenario.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 6 2024 21:04 utc | 77
Previous issue with 737 Max; FAA reported on 28 Dec 2023, loose nuts, or bolts without nuts on the rudder assembly.
https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-closely-monitoring-inspections-boeing-737-max-airplanes
The pictures of this latest incident are suggestive of missing nuts on ALL the panel bolts.
Where else on the 737 Max are there loose bolts or bolts without nuts?
Posted by: CitizenSmith | Jan 6 2024 21:07 utc | 78
we had -29C this morning and tomorrow will be the same. The last 2 months have been 5-6C below normal.
Posted by: Norwegian | Jan 6 2024 13:00 utc | 9
Norwegian, shame on you. I know that you at least are sufficiently numerate to know what an average is.
Posted by: canuck | Jan 6 2024 13:43 utc | 11
No such thing as Man Made Climate Change. The earth's climate has always changed in 2 billion years.
I am sorry, but I get so impatient with this illiterate nonsense. Yes, the climate has changed over 2 billion years for all sorts of reasons. It is changing now because of increased CO2. The physics has been known for over 100 years and is completely bomb proof. If you don't understand the maths, pelase just stay out of the debate.
Posted by: Tim | Jan 6 2024 21:35 utc | 79
I am delighted to have lived long enough as to be able to say that high tech air planes and cars are now of worse quality than the toys i had in my happy meal some decades ago.
Posted by: kspr | Jan 6 2024 21:41 utc | 81
Surely Unzites wouldn't lie to me!!!@!!!!!!!@!@@@@!!!!!!!
Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Jan 6 2024 11:54 utc | 1
TBH, it wasn't just Unzites. Literally everyone I talked to, and I have many friends and family in the aviation field, had the same racist opinions on why those early Max disasters happened. They went on and on about how poorly trained those other pilots were, etc. Later, when information that contradicted their narrative came out, they lost interest in talking about it. Hmm...
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 6 2024 21:48 utc | 82
b: "One hopes that the FAA and Congress will finally get serious with Boeing."
They are only serious for their money, passengers are dispendable. Boeing gives money to the candidates to be elected and once elected those send money back in one way or the other. It is more important to feed the candidates than the engineers.
Posted by: Naive | Jan 6 2024 21:53 utc | 83
A popular argument is that there is collective stupidity not organized conspiracy. ...
Posted by: Scorpion | Jan 6 2024 16:05 utc | 34
Both can co-exist in many settings and even live a long happy wedding.
Fact is most people do not believe in collective spirits and they are wrong.
Most superstitions, cults, group-thinks are products of collective thinking turned 'alive' in some sort of stand-alone spiritual entity - more or less self conscious - scattered over multiple minds or even spawned by them.
In esoteric research they call it "egregores" - search for it.
I believe they are self-concious software of sort ...
May be super IA (by-)products from the future, visiting and taking advantage of our weak psyches.
Never forget that we are apes living in the distant past of glorious mankind ...
Posted by: Greg Galloway | Jan 6 2024 21:55 utc | 84
Meanwhile the debate still rages in California about how to increase the "representation" of female and minority (though with a very narrow definition of "minority") candidates in university engineering programs, and improve the program completion rates. Unsurprising for the Empire of Delusions, a serious contender for a solution is to remove math requirements from engineering programs.
But this isn't something new. The American post-secondary education system has been wrestling with the problem of declining enrollment in and completion of STEM programs for decades. In fact, most American universities depend heavily upon aggressive recruiting of international students to keep their math and hard sciences schools open. To make their programs more attractive to domestic students "customers", American universities have been heaping pressure on these programs to shift to a more entertainment-centered instructional style such as what predominates in the soft sciences, Humanities and Business schools.
But while the production of truly math-free engineering graduates is still a work-in-progress, big businesses need "diverse"engineering teams now. They soon run out of female candidates who acquired their Bachelor's on the strength of their oratory oral skills and so have to find ways to fit diverse non-engineers into the engineering teams. This is where project managers and "designers" come in handy. Those positions don't require any actual skills and thus can be used to get non-engineers into engineering teams and thereby satisfying the diversity requirements. Furthermore, in order to prevent these non-engineers from being side-lined because they have nothing constructive to offer, management makes their positions higher in the business hierarchy to give them the appearance of relevance.
Of course, this weighs on the esteem of careers in engineering and hard sciences, which further depresses domestic enrollments in those programs at university. Why work hard on your skills when you can rise higher and faster in the corporate hierarchy by being an ignorant slacker? Enroll in programs that you can ace while avoiding even a single moment of sobriety throughout your entire college experience. It is a self-reinforcing process... a death-spiral for the empire.
Boeing is just the most conspicuous example of this imperial decay. The problem of declining competence permeates all of the western economy. Neither WWIII nor the "Great Reset" can reverse this cultural putrefaction. Why? Old Marxist axiom: consciousness arises from material conditions and one's role in the production process. The further one's role is from actual productive labor (mental labor, like that of engineers, counts), the further into delusion one's consciousness can stray. America has been deindustrialized, and what remains is subject to the dictatorship of "professionals" with no life experience with anything remotely related to productive labor (of either the mental or physical sort). Result? A culture dominated by delusion and incompetence.
Posted by: William Gruff | Jan 6 2024 21:58 utc | 85
@Tim | Jan 6 2024 21:35 utc | 79
Norwegian, shame on you. I know that you at least are sufficiently numerate to know what an average is.The official average for December 2023 near me was -5.2C, the normal average is -1.7C so it is "just" 3.5C below average.
All you guys are doing is showing subjective political or moral opinions about a scientific issue. None of you show any sign of understanding the issue. And you have the guts to project shame. At least try to make a scientific argument.
Posted by: Norwegian | Jan 6 2024 22:19 utc | 86
In a normal, well-adjusted country, a government regulatory organization like the Federal Aviation Administration regulates companies like Boeing that operate as manufacturing entities in the private sphere. In the Retard Republic (formerly the United States of America), owing to the worship of for-profit companies and the generalized distrust of government, Boeing regulates the FAA.
Posted by: Matthew | Jan 6 2024 22:21 utc | 87
Where else on the 737 Max are there loose bolts or bolts without nuts?
Posted by: CitizenSmith | Jan 6 2024 21:07 utc | 78
Brand new plane. Industrial sabotage, worker discontent, subpar hiring. The missing bolts are not design issues. This is a failure of manufacturing processes at Boeing. And it is a new issue as Boeing's other planes have excellent records. Boeing also manufactures planes for the military so my guess is this will not be treated like the MAX design issue.
Posted by: robinthehood | Jan 6 2024 22:21 utc | 88
Section of fuselage blows out mid-air. Alaska Boeing 737 MAX 9 returns to Portland. Real ATC
Posted by: Norwegian | Jan 6 2024 22:28 utc | 89
Of course you should. It is changing here, we had -29C this morning and tomorrow will be the same. The last 2 months have been 5-6C below normal.
Posted by: Norwegian | Jan 6 2024 13:00 utc | 9
Confusion between meteorology and climate. As usual.
Currently -8°C in Bergen and -25°C in Rodberg. And -43°C in Iakutsk.
Posted by: Naive | Jan 6 2024 22:39 utc | 90
One of the biggest signs of the destruction of American culture is the rise of the bureaucratic class. In Boeing, this has meant it's much harder for engineers to drive a project to place safety and excellence first.
This has gone to all industries, including education. One of my favorite ideas was David Graeber's "Bullshit Jobs", which identifies the ways the bureaucratic class creates jobs that shouldn't exist and make it harder for important jobs to spend all their time on productive work. For example, as much as 50% of the time of many essential jobs are spend in boxticking activities and placating management.
This is also a major reason why the US simply cannot compete without all the economic warfare it does. There are so many inefficiencies across all industries. (DEI anyone?) It would take effectively an economic revolution to change any of this.
Posted by: Matthew | Jan 6 2024 22:39 utc | 91
Posted by: canuck | Jan 6 2024 13:43 utc | 11
No such thing as Man Made Climate Change. The earth's climate has always changed in 2 billion years.
The sun gets warmer over time. 60 mya there were temperate forest above the artic circle. During those last 60 mya the atmosphere temperature went lower and lower with glaciations during the last periods. Please, explain this contradiction: sun warmer, temperature down.
Posted by: Tim | Jan 6 2024 21:35 utc | 79
They can say what they want, reality will strike sooner or later. Like for the SMO. I would love to see Miami under water, unfortunately it will take some centuries unless the powerfull positive retroaction will happen.
Posted by: Naive | Jan 6 2024 22:51 utc | 92
The official average for December 2023 near me was -5.2C, the normal average is -1.7C so it is "just" 3.5C below average.
Posted by: Norwegian | Jan 6 2024 22:19 utc | 86
You are still within meteorology. When someone points the climate, you look only at meteorology.
My data:
December average temperature 2007-2011: 4.2°C
December average temperature 2007-2023: 6.9°C
I will let you draw the conclusion.
Posted by: Naive | Jan 6 2024 22:57 utc | 93
All you guys are doing is showing subjective political or moral opinions about a scientific issue. None of you show any sign of understanding the issue. And you have the guts to project shame. At least try to make a scientific argument.
Posted by: Norwegian | Jan 6 2024 22:19 utc | 86
Strawman fallacy. For I welcome the climate change. It is obvious that all fossil fuels that could be extracted will be extracted and that they will be used.
Now, please explain the contradiction mentioned in my comment #92. It is not a political contradiction, it is a scientific question.
Posted by: Naive | Jan 6 2024 23:18 utc | 94
Can't tell what is dropping faster: 737 Max or its quality.
Posted by: d dan | Jan 6 2024 23:24 utc | 95
The US needs to reform itself, should it collapse onto itself, as the Roman empire did, it will take, if not the entire world, a good portion of the world down with it...
Posted by: S Brennan | Jan 6 2024 19:09 utc | 61
Romans got their priorities right at some point, spending about a century to figure out what is the nature of Christ, with some ensuing bloodshed. Perhaps we also need a spiritual synthesis, say, wokism with Protestant Work Ethic (I read claims about each that there are important, for myself, I can't figure out which of my acquaintances is woke or Protestant).
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Jan 6 2024 23:32 utc | 96
Where else on the 737 Max are there loose bolts or bolts without nuts?
Posted by: CitizenSmith | Jan 6 2024 21:07 utc | 78
Nuts find it more lucrative to go to politics, at least in the Western Hemisphere, so some bolts get unmatched. In politics, we deal with nuts and dolts.
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Jan 6 2024 23:39 utc | 97
About abnormal December averages:
The official average for December 2023 near me was -5.2C, the normal average is -1.7C so it is "just" 3.5C below average. Norwegian
Tiksi: multiyear December average -45, but in 2013, toasty -39, 6C higher. There was even a day with -21!
So globally, the winter may be unusually mild this year.
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Jan 7 2024 0:16 utc | 98
William Gruff | Jan 6 2024 21:58 utc | 85,
Whether I agree with your post in it's entirety or not is immaterial what is important is, that you spoke to the underlying issue of B's post...good on you and best wishes in the coming year.
Posted by: S Brennan | Jan 7 2024 0:25 utc | 99
Piotr Berman | Jan 6 2024 23:32 utc | 96
The west needs to learn that working, the act of doing things, not telling others what to do your work the core of ethical behavior...
Posted by: S Brennan | Jan 7 2024 0:27 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
Oh but I was repeatedly assured by the totally not rayyyyyycisss Unz comment forumators that there was nothing wrong with the 737 Max, it was all the fault of illiterate untrained Third World pilots.
Surely Unzites wouldn't lie to me!!!@!!!!!!!@!@@@@!!!!!!!
Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Jan 6 2024 11:54 utc | 1