Boeing Offers The 787 Apology

Whether its landing in Iceland or hanging out in Oslo the 787 is not your Dad's airplane, even though your dad maybe assembling it. This introduction is not an apology but an observation of the 787 Aircraft operations. It would be easy to assign blame on parts is parts people or some kind of statement relating to customer incompetence, since customers the globe over suffer in silence and others squawk, as Norwegian should. Some let the performance do the talking by landing in Iceland when targeting a Polish touchdown. Either way you want to slice it or  not couch the 787 with a soft landing comment. The "787 should not" be treated like the prior generation aircraft, even though your father may be building it.  This complexity should be treated like a moon shot and not like a bus ride.   The 787 has so many new systems, parts and features that almost all are connected to some light, message or alarm. It would drive the director for "The Institute For The Very Very Nervous" ( ala Mel Brooks fame) just plane crazy.

The big question! Will Boeing get its arms around this rascally Monkey in time for the the technocrats getting it back into the Zoo? The Zoo being an airport near you.  Since no apology is adequate for all the squawks from airlines and peeps from the press, Boeing needs to up its game leaving lack luster promises off the table, and picking up the mantel of an aviation giant that it is. They are doing the politically correct thing by announcing they will do more, better, and thorough job of sending forth trouble free 787. They have no other choice but to say that line, if they want to continue to play the game.

So in comes this humble and sarcastic blogger to add on the pile of Boeing's woes. Even though being  a big fan of Boeing, I try to be realistic as my Doctor has so ordered, "stay realistic and not make fantasy your new reality".

"Doctor, its done" is my response. "Now let's go back to my child hood and airplanes".

LOT Over Iceland

Camp fires help the Boeing Chill

When things go bad, things go bad. Its a small comfort when 300  of your friends are experiencing the things go bad cockpit alarm, because some pump has over anxious detectors following every burp. In my fathers aircraft, the flying pilot used to tap the gauge checking for a stuck reading, and finish the punch line to the co-pilot as some off beat joke. Now the pilot lands in Iceland of all places, and Boeing sends its Code Blue team to Iceland for Fish and Chips.

After-all each time a 787 takes off its a "Moon Shot", not a bus ride.

I wonder out loud this question. "What are all the Airlines experiencing as a percentage trips taken, where they receive a computer generated squawk during operations? Boeing knows that answer! ANA/Japan has 23+11 flying copies and have had its share of complaints, but have since become a quiet customer for the most part. The Japanese will not tolerate poor performance without a fight. The extent of Norwegians problematic two aircraft sounds like the aircraft were delivered without a thorough check out. The technology is too complicated for the customer's ability of resolving a continuous stream of problems. Norwegian didn't build it and can't fix it, as they are currently situated, and should be unsure of how to address this complexity. Norwegian  wants Boeing to come over and make this airplane fly because its just out of the shrink wrap. I would want to take a new TV back to the store if some circuit breaker shuts the TV off every time I watch it. Norwegians request is just that, "A give me one that works request at the service counter!"

Norwegian Park And Ride

"Peeps", are what the press makes of every issue because they love to sell rumors and mishaps as a way of making money. If a 787 hits a bug its news. Not only that the wire service will replicate the "splat" for several days and in hundreds of news outlets. Its the nature of the news business. Worn out shoes are a thing of the past. Copy/paste is the new oxford shoe. Hence, the press, "Peeps", the squawks. A big Boeing perception problem! The peeps are more annoying than hornets at a picnic. What is really the bigger picture for the 787 is missed. That is why customers are staying with it and are still ordering it in quantity to this day even though the peeps litter the front page. That reality my Doctor said to embrace is as follows:

The 787 Big Picture:

• Millions of Passengers
• More and More millions of Miles
• Systems, annoyingly keep it safe (Squawks to peeps)
• Two Years in service having catastrophic problems (battery), everything worked
• Superior performance
• The Moon is in sight
• Boeing needs to up its game from your fathers airplane to a complex aircraft.

• and so forth

Now for the Faux Apology From Boeing for The 787:

This great airplane requires our greatest effort for its valued customers. We have underestimated the nature of the 787 and now have learned to harness its true potential. The customers deserve our every effort to make it fly perfectly and they will receive that attention.

Unidentified Board Room Comment:

We underestimated the true meaning of "Teething pains" or the Boeing slogan "I'm not going if it ain't a Boeing", ask Norwegian Air! An Airbus replacement lease is a slap in the face for the 787.