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Comment by sccxy | Hacker News Reader

Sorry, but 2 months old aircraft failure should not get any credit.

Aircraft are not minivans. Whether a ship, large truck, aircraft, power plant, datacenter, or new house, its is normal for complex systems to suffer more faults when brand new. This was a dramatic and unacceptable fault, but the idea that brand new planes sould have fewer faults than those a few years older doesnt mesh with the reality of such complex and dynamic products.

737 MAX is no longer "brand new"

737 MAX was already grounded for fatal safety issues that should have prevented it from being deemed airworthy in the first place.

Boeing recently argued safety shouldn't be a concern for the 737 MAX

Boeing clearly appreciates shareholder value above safety and quality. Which you cannot have for systems this complex

The 737 max product line is not new. This individual aircraft is only two months out of certification. By large aircraft standards, that is showroom new.

When you say that its is normal for complex systems to suffer more faults when brand new can you share the stats that apply to airliners?

Also, what makes 737 Max a dynamic product ?

It is dynamic because almost no two aircraft will be identical. Between the innumerable customization options, constant small changes in construction and inspection proceedures mean each aircraft is in some ways a unique product. This is an imporant consideration when, like here, a failure appears to have occured amongst one of the optional/customizable subsystems (emergency exit configs).

Well, that would contribute to your when brand new statement. Isn't this a quality assurance nightmare to the point where one must wonder if innumerable customization options is a desirable attribute?

>Aircraft are not minivans

Indeed. The delivery of a commercial airliner from the manufacturer is nothing like buying a new car. It is a months long process, involving multiple safety checkoffs and test flights. Just about every nut and bolt is checked and double checked, and hours of inflight verifications are made. To get through that process with such a glaring defect boggles the mind.

> brand new planes

The whole shtick is that it's not a brand new plane. Boeing sought (and obtained, and seeks yet again) exemptions because it's "just a 737". Pretending that it is a brand new plane would mean they lied to avoid costly and time consuming safety certifications. You can't have it both ways.

Brand new plane, not brand new model. The plane was out of factory 2 months ago, this could well be assembly defect.

Like a tesla

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