Boeing has a long and storied past. The company was founded in 1916 and has produced many famous aircraft. These include the B-17, B-29, and B-52 Bombers, as well as the 707, 747, and other airliners.
Boeing has run into a lot of problems in recent years, including a Boeing plane’s door falling off during flight. Boeing is currently undergoing major management changes, which include the resignation of CEO David Calhoun at the end of this year.
Boeing CEO David Calhoun is stepping down at the end of this year. This comes as part of an overall management shake-up following a series of mishaps in one of America’s most iconic manufacturers.
Stan Deal, the president and CEO of Boeing’s commercial aircraft division, is retiring immediately. Stephanie Pope, who has been the company’s Chief Operating Officer for less than 3 months, is now in charge of the division.
The company announced that former airline CEO Lawrence Kellner will not be running for reelection as board chairman in May. He will be replaced by an ex-Qualcomm CEO.
Boeing has been under pressure ever since a brand new Alaska Airlines 737Max panel came off in early January. Investigators claim that bolts used to hold the panel in place after repairs at the Boeing factory were missing.
It is not surprising that the company’s quality and maintenance problems have been so bad in recent years.
Boeing aircraft were involved in several high-profile incidents, including fatal accidents, in the past few years. Two Boeing 737 MAX planes crashed in 2018 and 2019 resulting in more than 300 deaths. Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 (a 737 MAX 9 airliner) had a blowout in flight that left a hole in its fuselage, requiring an emergency land in Portland, Oregon. In that incident, there were no fatalities but several injuries.
Boeing has announced that it will take back control of Spirit AeroSystems (the company that manufactures the fuselages for the 737 MAX).
Boeing’s biggest effort to improve the quality of its products has been the beginning of discussions on bringing back Spirit AeroSystems. This company builds the fuselages and many other parts for the Max, as well as for other Boeing aircraft. Spirit AeroSystems, the Boeing spin-off that was spun off almost 20 years ago, has made mistakes that have compounded Boeing’s problems.
Calhoun stated that the two companies were making progress in their talks, “and this is very important.”
Boeing is still a major player within the aerospace industry, despite the problems that the commercial division of the company is experiencing and the management changes that are accompanying them. Boeing has many military contracts. These include not only aircraft but also missile defense and directed-energy weapon systems. The company will produce the new F-15EX, an air superiority fighter. It will also continue manufacturing the AH64 Apache attack helicopter, and Block III F/A-18 Super Hornet. The company that gave us the B-17 is still around.
