Our Minister of Manufacturing has informed us that down in Southern California, the Boeing debacle is being felt. One company has just laid off over 160 employees, some who have been on the job for years. The company is a key supplier of parts for Boeings' 737 MAX jet liner. After FAA and Boeing announced that the 737 would not be recertified before July, 2020. the company could no longer wait to shave the cost of emplyees.
Many are highly trained engineers, some are mid-level managers, and many more are hands on production workers. All of this is directly related to the chaos that has enveloped the entire company of Boeing. Comments from employees, managers, and executives have pointed the finger at those who sought profits over safety. Others chastised the FAA for going easy on Boeing when it introduced the MCAS system that controls the aircraft during flight by automatically lowering the nose and into a descent, which occurred in both fatal crashes.
Time will tell if the old bird, the 737, will fly again. I have to ask myself: "Self, would you get on a plane that requires 2 computers to control it when a sensor sends a signal that something is wrong? Or that requires pilots receive special training to take control BACK from the computers? Some folks equate this scenario to HAL taking over the spacecraft in the movie "2001, A Space Odyssey", by Arthur C. Clarke.( He spoke about the story and the movie in person at San Jose State University in Silicon Valley in Spring, 1970- 50years ago).
Boeing just announced that a new/old plane, the 777 took its first flight this week. Hmmm. After they cancelled 2 earlier dates because of bad weather. No doubt they didn't want to explain another crash landing.
Our minister will be sending updates.
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