610-c4-p141 Boeing 737

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Mechanical Engineering

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Apr 3, 2024

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The Boeing 737 Max Crashes: What Happened and Why?
A) Briefly summarize the key issues identified in the case Boeing is an aircraft manufacturer with a slim fleet of planes. The issue they were faced with was adding a more fuel-efficient aircraft to their fleet. Boeing opted to create a more fuel- efficient engine in the existing body of a Beoing 737. Due to this, MCAS software was created to prevent the new engine from lifting the nose of the airplane, causing it to stall and crash. The MCAS calculation malfunction caused the software to push the nose down of an already straight plane. This caused the plane to crash into the sea and kill all 157 people on board. B) Case Questions 1. What is the problem described in this case? Would you consider it an ethical dilemma? Why or why not? Boeing decided they wanted to build a more fuel-efficient aircraft, but unfortunately, they cut corners to do so. They rushed production and sacrificed the integrity of their safety systems in an attempt to increase their profit margins. The failure of the MCAS system and the lack of ability for a pilot to control such a crucial safety feature led to the demise of all people riding Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302. This decision was not an ethical dilemma as there should never be contemplation between a larger profit margin and public safety. 2. Describe the role of management, organization, and technology factors in the Boeing 737 MAX safety problems. To what extent was management responsible? Management - Due to the ambitions of management to get a better profit margin, they OK’ed the construction of a more fuel-efficient aircraft. The downside of this would be the fact that safety was neglected in the construction. The company pushed the FFA to allow self- certification, which meant that Being was able to certify 96 percent of its work. “When FAA engineers started looking into the first Boeing 737 MAX crash, they had very little information on the MCAS system and didn't fully understand it. Their files on the aircraft did not contain a complete safety review”. Aswell, Boeing had produced two expensive safety fetures that are said to would have prevented both crashed. Due to management not thinking they could afford them, the two planes were flown without them. I believe that management is most at fault for the two accidents. Organizational - The Boeing organization is responsible for the pilot’s lack of knowledge of the aircraft hey were operating. “Most MAX pilots did not know about the software until after the first crash. Boeing did not provide 737 MAX test pilots with detailed briefings about how fast or steeply MCAS could push down a plane's nose.” This goes to show that the Boeing pilots were not adequately prepared to fly a Boeing 737 MAX. The organization should be held responsible for any pilot error or knowledge barriers. Technological - Boeing rushed the production of a more fuel-efficient aircraft. It is known that during the rush of production, the MCAS software was created. Such software that has major
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