You Don't Hear Stuff, Just Apologies: A Boeing Condition

Since the Max 8 fell from the sky, Boeing stopped making airplanes so it seemed. Very little coming from Boeing about its 777X gets a mention. Even its roll-out was attended only by Boeing employees well after its own and long mentioned 777X coming out party. Boeing went quiet on that big bird. 

Now that this is observed, it is safe to say a lot of things are happening at Boeing. Apologies and MCAS are the headlines, but in reality, the activity of the 777X is a monstrous project which hasn't skipped a beat. It is being fitted out just the same for first flight and that will be soon. It may occur without fanfare or public Network TV at the forefront of reporting. It will occur at Everett, Wa though, hopefully in daylight. 

Boeing has gone underground since the 737 Max crashes and only reports what will help its aviation cause. The 777X program has become a very skittish affair. The new Boeing norm is if it's successful, let's report that success after its success. 

No longer are live shots of high-risk factory door openings or inside the airplane view of banks of equipment bolted in place before first flight. Its own website shows aging content of the 777X from last year which has been watched over and over again without nary a new photo of what's up with the 777X. 

The 777X might fly silently into the sky and land successfully with a full report following the accomplishment. Gone are the bolden days of first flight unless it knows something that will startle the world back to everything is okay once more. The Max accidents have been a major setback to Boeing other than just bad news. It has changed how Boeing faces the world from top to bottom. The signal of change happened at the 777X first rollout, a private party. By the end of April, the 777X will fly but no mention of this event is coming from Boeing as it prepares this aircraft, it can't risk failure of the first flight.

One might say everything is riding on its success to gain back world confidence in the airplane maker. It could happen to the other guy but they are watching closely as to not make the same mistakes that Boeing made. Being overconfident is in its own decision making. Pushing through assumptions not fully vetted because it would cost profitability for a program. 

Now Boeing is spending money and resources on an airplane, the 777X, with only about 350 booked orders. Since, if successful, there will be thousands of orders going forward plus the prestige of being a fantastic airplane maker. It's not that to tragic crashes happened on its single-aisle offering but it's in a time when crashes have been eliminated for the most extent. Two crashes and multiple occurrences of the same type of problem has exposed Boeing's thinking on what is an expense and what is a safety margin. The pursuit of a profit margin has been exposed in Boeing's leadership. 

Therefore, go underground with anything until it is done right then report. It is only a survival instinct for any creature in harm's way. The first 777X flight will be held close to Boeing's vest.