Boeing 737MAX Lessons and Outlook

What do you think are the core lessons from the 737 MAX?

There are three. The first is the strategic lesson I mentioned. Don’t agitate scenarios, if you have no certainty that you have addressed them all. Secondly, in aviation, whenever you try to do things quick and dirty, all you are certain of is to do them quickly and dirtily. This is the development of the MAX. No need for, we need to contain the cost; no need for simulation; no need for training; no need for three angle of attack sensors, one is enough. Either you do it professionally or you don’t. Quick and dirty doesn’t exist in aviation. The third lesson is the one I mentioned earlier. The crisis management is where you have to have the people at that position, not in different positions. Crisis management – put it back in flight, before talking contracts and legal proceedings. Put it back in flight.

It’s interesting how the NEO comes from focusing on your strength and re-engining a really successful platform, with what you know. Rather than, as you said, agitating or really encouraging a reaction from a competitor.

You’re absolutely right. It was not the way things were done, in this industry. It was not usual. Usually, we just take a blank sheet of paper and we draw a new plane. Here we said, we have a platform. Let’s see how we can improve it.

How are you looking at how the 737 MAX issue can evolve? Do you expect them to launch an NMA now or at some point in the future? What are you looking at, in that sense?

I think they will have to. I don’t see any other way, any different way, from re-baselining the 737. Launching an NMA, when will it be available? Had they decided in March 2019 to do this redesign I mentioned, it would be through today.

Can they afford that?

Yes, it’s one order of magnitude below launching an NMA.