Boeing CEO Addresses the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 Report
Boeing CEO Addresses the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 Report : We at Boeing are sorry for the lives lost in the recent 737 MAX accidents. These tragedies continue to weigh heavily on our hearts and minds, and we extend our sympathies to the loved ones of the passengers and crew on board Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302. All of us feel the immense gravity of these events across our company and recognize the devastation of the families and friends of the loved ones who perished. The full details of what happened in the two accidents will be issued by the government authorities in the final reports, but, with the release of the preliminary report of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 accident investigation, it’s apparent that in both flights the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, known as MCAS, activated in response to erroneous angle of attack information. The history of our industry shows most accidents are caused by a chain of events. This again is the case here, and we know we can break one of those chain links in these two accidents. As pilots have told us, erroneous activation of the MCAS function can add to what is already a high workload environment. It’s our responsibility to eliminate this risk. We own it and we know how to do it. From the days immediately following the Lion Air accident, we’ve had teams of our top engineers and technical experts working tirelessly in collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration and our customers to finalize and implement a software update that will ensure accidents like that of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 never happen again. We’re taking a comprehensive, disciplined approach, and taking the time, to get the software update right. We’re nearing completion and anticipate its certification and implementation on the 737 MAX fleet worldwide in the weeks ahead. We regret the impact the grounding has had on our airline customers and their passengers. This update, along with the associated training and additional educational materials that pilots want in the wake of these accidents, will eliminate the possibility of unintended MCAS activation and prevent an MCAS-related accident from ever happening again. We at Boeing take the responsibility to build and deliver airplanes to our airline customers and to the flying public that are safe to fly, and can be safely flown by every single one of the professional and dedicated pilots all around the world. This is what we do at Boeing. We remain confident in the fundamental safety of the 737 MAX. All who fly on it—the passengers, flight attendants and pilots, including our own families and friends—deserve our best. When the MAX returns to the skies with the software changes to the MCAS function, it will be among the safest airplanes ever to fly. We’ve always been relentlessly focused on safety and always will be. It’s at the very core of who we are at Boeing. And we know we can always be better. Our team is determined to keep improving on safety in partnership with the global aerospace industry and broader community. It’s this shared sense of responsibility for the safety of flight that spans and binds us all together. I cannot remember a more heart-wrenching time in my career with this great company. When I started at Boeing more than three decades ago, our amazing people inspired me. I see how they dedicate their lives and extraordinary talents to connect, protect, explore and inspire the world — safely. And that purpose and mission has only grown stronger over the years. We know lives depend on the work we do and that demands the utmost integrity and excellence in how we do it. With a deep sense of duty, we embrace the responsibility of designing, building and supporting the safest airplanes in the skies. We know every person who steps aboard one of our airplanes places their trust in us. Together, we’ll do everything possible to earn and re-earn that trust and confidence from our customers and the flying public in the weeks and months ahead. Again, we’re deeply saddened by and are sorry for the pain these accidents have caused worldwide. Everyone affected has our deepest sympathies. Manufacturing & Engineering Magazine | The Home of Manufacturing Industry News
Boeing CEO Sends a Message to the Aviation Community
We know lives depend on the work we do, and our teams embrace that responsibility with a deep sense of commitment every day. Our purpose at Boeing is to bring family, friends and loved ones together with our commercial airplanes—safely. The tragic losses of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 and Lion Air Flight 610 affect us all, uniting people and nations in shared grief for all those in mourning. Our hearts are heavy, and we continue to extend our deepest sympathies to the loved ones of the passengers and crew on board. Safety is at the core of who we are at Boeing, and ensuring safe and reliable travel on our airplanes is an enduring value and our absolute commitment to everyone. This overarching focus on safety spans and binds together our entire global aerospace industry and communities. We’re united with our airline customers, international regulators and government authorities in our efforts to support the most recent investigation, understand the facts of what happened and help prevent future tragedies. Based on facts from the Lion Air Flight 610 accident and emerging data as it becomes available from the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 accident, we’re taking actions to fully ensure the safety of the 737 MAX. We also understand and regret the challenges for our customers and the flying public caused by the fleet’s grounding. Work is progressing thoroughly and rapidly to learn more about the Ethiopian Airlines accident and understand the information from the airplane’s cockpit voice and flight data recorders. Our team is on-site with investigators to support the investigation and provide technical expertise. The Ethiopia Accident Investigation Bureau will determine when and how it’s appropriate to release additional details. Boeing has been in the business of aviation safety for more than 100 years, and we’ll continue providing the best products, training and support to our global airline customers and pilots. This is an ongoing and relentless commitment to make safe airplanes even safer. Soon we’ll release a software update and related pilot training for the 737 MAX that will address concerns discovered in the aftermath of the Lion Air Flight 610 accident. We’ve been working in full cooperation with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of Transportation and the National Transportation Safety Board on all issues relating to both the Lion Air and the Ethiopian Airlines accidents since the Lion Air accident occurred in October last year. Our entire team is devoted to the quality and safety of the aircraft we design, produce and support. I’ve dedicated my entire career to Boeing, working shoulder to shoulder with our amazing people and customers for more than three decades, and I personally share their deep sense of commitment. Recently, I spent time with our team members at our 737 production facility in Renton, Wash., and once again saw firsthand the pride our people feel in their work and the pain we’re all experiencing in light of these tragedies. The importance of our work demands the utmost integrity and excellence—that’s what I see in our team, and we’ll never rest in pursuit of it. Our mission is to connect people and nations, protect freedom, explore our world and the vastness of space, and inspire the next generation of aerospace dreamers and doers—and we’ll fulfill that mission only by upholding and living our values. That’s what safety means to us. Together, we’ll keep working to earn and keep the trust people have placed in Boeing. Manufacturing & Engineering Magazine | The Home of Manufacturing Industry News
Boeing Has Has Plans Approved by Sheffield Council to Build a Manufacturing Facility
The US aerospace company, Boeing has had plans approved by Sheffield Council to build a manufacturing facility. The proposed facility will be located in Tinsley’s Sheffield Business Park. It is thought that the creation of this new Boeing manufacturing site will create 30 jobs and will see the production of actuation systems for commercial aeroplanes carried out in Sheffield. Boeing Sheffield will more specifically see the manufacture of the actuation systems that will be installed into the Next-Generation 737, 737 MAX and 777 models of aeroplanes. The systems produced in Sheffield will be installed in the aircraft from next year. The new manufacturing site will also be built alongside the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre that the University of Sheffield is building with the support of the US aerospace company. The partnership that has been created between Sheffield University and Boeing is mutually beneficial, as the University receives the support and expertise of the industry partner, while Boeing will have a great deal of recruitment carried out by the University, with a constant supply of alumni. It is thought that the creation of these two new manufacturing facilities could offer the opportunity to improve the engineering talent currently found in the UK. It would be a vital opportunity that would be beneficial post Brexit to improve the numbers of people choosing engineering and similar skillsets as careers as well as making the most of homegrown talent. Sheffield is historically more well known for fabrication based industries, as opposed to manufacturing. Therefore the creation of the new manufacturing facilities to be based at Tinsleys Sheffield Business Park is an opportunity to forge a new engineering centre, close enough to the Midlands to benefit from the knowledge and expertise that have been developed in that region. The investment made by the major US aerospace company is a reflection of how attractive the UK is as a place for investment, which could lead to more reassurance for the manufacturing industry going in to Brexit. Manufacturing & Engineering Magazine | The Home of Manufacturing Industry News
Boeing Factory Heading to Rotherham!
The first Boeing factory outside of the USA will be situated in Rotherham, in news that was welcomed by Rotherham City Council last month. As part of a multi-million pound investment which brings together Sheffield City Region and Boeing, the factory will be heading to the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID), and will provide new employment and supply chain opportunities to the local area. Boeing is the worldâs largest aerospace company, and initially the business will be partnering up with the AMRC to establish new manufacturing technology and methods as part of a research and development programme. Building for the factory is then expected to begin towards the end of 2018, and the facility will be used to produce components for commercial aircrafts. This development follows the news that McLaren Automotive will be moving into Rotherhamâs Advanced Manufacturing Park, which will only further cement Sheffield City Regionâs position as a global centre for innovation-inspired advanced manufacturing. Cllr Chris Read, Rotherham Councilâs Leader, commented following the news, On top of the announcement two weeks ago that McLaren will be building a factory in Rotherham, this is yet more great news for the region. The decision by Boeing to site their factory in the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District will bring yet more highly skilled manufacturing jobs to our area. Weâll continue to work closely with our partners in Sheffield to bring more job opportunities and strengthen our economy for the future. This joint investment is expected create half a billion of gross value added (GVA) on both a regional and national economic level, as well as of course the creation of hundreds of jobs both directly and as part of the supply chain. This is great news for the local area and the UK as a whole, so we can only hope for investments similar to this in the future!
Evergreen to convert 767s for Boeing
Evergreen to convert 767s for Boeing : Aircraft manufacturer Boeing has chosen Evergreen Aviation Technologies for its 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) programme. Under the deal, Taiwanese aircraft maintenance repair and overhaul facility EGAT will modify and convert the planes into 767-300BCFs, with the first plane due to be redelivered in 2018. Boeing has received 27 firm orders worldwide for the 767-300BCF. Converted 767-300BCFs have about the same cargo capability as the 767-300 production freighter with about 52 tonnes structural payload at a range of approximately 3,000 nautical miles (5,930 km.) and 412,000 lbs. (187,270 kg.) maximum take-off weight. There are 24 main deck pallet positions. EGAT has previously carried out airframe conversions for the Dreamlifters programme of converted 747s used to support the 787 program as well as a 747-400 propulsion test platform for GE Aviation in 2014. Article taken from http://www.aircargonews.net/news/single-view/news/evergreen-to-convert-767s-for-boeing.html Manufacturing & Engineering Magazine | The Home of Manufacturing Industry News
NASA is Revolutionising Aviation, Leap Frogging to Green, Quiet Airplanes
NASA is Revolutionising Aviation, Leap Frogging to Green, Quiet Airplanes : The future of aviation is electric and NASA is playing a vital role in getting us there. America stands on the cusp of a new era in aviation, NASA says, even calling it “revolutionary.” Airplanes will be dramatically cleaner, quieter, and even faster.After six years of research, demonstration airplanes use half the fuel, produce 75% less pollution and are much quieter – noise is just one-eighth of today’s levels, says NASA’s Environmentally Responsible Aviation team. Researchers focused on design changes that make airplanes efficient enough to run on electricity: advanced, lightweight composite materials; advanced fans that greatly improve engine propulsion; and changes to wing flaps and landing gear that make them much quieter. Although efficiency has been incrementally improving in the airline industry, NASA’s work takes a leap forward.“The full potential of these technologies can’t be realized in the tube-and-wing shape of today’s aircraft,” says Jaiwon Shin of NASA Aeronautics Research. In future airplanes, weight and drag are reduced by smaller tails and even new coatings that prevent insect residues from building up on the wings. New ways of melding airplane parts together make airplanes 20% lighter and much stronger. Morphing wings are part of the body, eliminating the drag and noise of air flowing through gaps. Research partners FlexSys and Aviation Partners of Seattle have already announced they plan to commercialize this technology. A new design for jet engine combustors – the chamber where fuel is burned – cuts nitrogen oxide emissions by 80%. President Obama’s 2017 budget proposal would make these innovations a reality through a 10-year plan – will it make it through Congress? It would enable NASA to build a variety of demonstration planes, called X-planes, to get these innovations into the commercial market – including those that fly on electricity and biofuels. Sceptor, an experimental electric plane, integrates motors into the wing. Other planes have very light wings that can change shape to move through turbulent air. “With this 10-year plan to accelerate the transformation of aviation, the United States can maintain its status as the world’s leader in aviation for many years to come,” says Shin. Manufacturing & Engineering Magazine | The Home of Manufacturing Industry News
