Boeing CEO emphasizes safety in first grilling by Congress on 737 MAX
Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg was grilled over the 737 MAX by Senators for the first time on Capitol Hill Tuesday, the one-year anniversary of the Lion Air crash that took the lives of 189 passengers.
In Muilenburg's first appearance in front of Congress since the aircraft was grounded in March, he was questioned by members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation primarily on the safety of the aircraft and culture at Boeing, but also when it will return to service.
"We made mistakes and got some things wrong," he told Senators after expressing condolences to the 346 passengers lost on the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines crashes. "We have developed improvements to the 737 MAX to ensure that accidents like these never happen again. We also are learning deeper lessons that will result in improvements in the design of future airplanes."
Related: Boeing maintains 737 MAX return in December
Both crashes of 737 MAX 8 aircraft have been attributed to a faulty maneuvering characteristics augmentation system, or MCAS, system that erroneously pushed the nose of the aircraft down in the minutes after takeoff.
Chicago-based Boeing has developed three fixes for MCAS, as well as other flight system software updates, as part of its effort to get the MAX flying again, said Muilenburg. Fixes include drawing angle-of-attack -- or the the angle the aircraft nose is pointing through the air -- data from two sensors instead of one, prohibiting MCAS from activating more than once in succession, and ensuring that a pilot can always overcome the system manually.
"We’re in the final stages of the process," said Muilenburg when asked how close Boeing was to seeking re-certification of the MAX from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and returning it to the sky. "The aircraft will return to service when it’s safe. This is not timeline driven.”
A week ago, Muilenburg and other Boeing executives told shareholders that they expect the FAA to re-certify the aircraft by December. However, they acknowledged then -- as with Senators today -- that the process was taking longer than anticipated.
The update came a day after the head of Boeing Commercial Airplanes Kevin McAllister was given the boot, and replaced by Stan Deal from the airframer's services business.
Airlines continue to face uncertainty over when the MAX will resume flying. American Airlines, United Airlines and WestJet have removed it through January, and Air Canada and Southwest Airlines through February.
Related: Southwest cautious with winter schedule as 737 MAX grounding drags on
Acknowledging the potential hesitancy travelers may have flying on the MAX when it returns to service, executives at both Southwest and United have said passengers booked on the aircraft can change to another flight without charge.
Muilenburg's comments Tuesday aimed to allay Senators' concerns over the safety of the MAX and Boeing's corporate culture, which is seen by many as rushing to get the aircraft flying at the expense of safety.
“The company, the board cannot prioritize profits over safety," said Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington during the hearing. "Safety always has to be job one.”
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.