Aviation safety: Boeing and the F.A.A.

We discuss the Ethiopian Airlines crash, Boeing's 737 Max airplanes, the Federal Aviation Administration's relationship with industry, and aviation safety.

Air Date: March 21, 2019 10:00 am

In this March 14, 2019, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 airplane parked at Boeing Field in Seattle. U.S. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

Guests: Andrew Tangel, Jeff Wise, Thomas Anthony

The Federal Aviation Administration grounded all Boeing 737 Max jets last week, citing similarities between the Ethiopian Air crash and last year’s Lion Air crash in Indonesia. The investigation is still ongoing but many experts suggest software, automation, and pilot training are likely at fault. The certification of Boeing’s 737 Max 8 and the company’s close relationship with the F.A.A. are also drawing scrutiny. This hour we’ll talk about the crash and aviation safety. We’ll also learn about President Trump’s nominee to head the F.A.A. which was announced yesterday, former Delta CEO Steve Dickson. Our guests this hour are Wall Street Journal aviation reporter, ANDREW TANGEL, private pilot and aviation analyst JEFF WISE, and THOMAS ANTHONY, director of the Aviation Safety and Security Program at the University of Southern California.

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