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Juergen T Steinmetz·
Aviation Feature
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Boeing 737 Max not safe? 2 Crashes, 62 airlines in danger?

Boeing debuts first 737 MAX 7

How safe is the brand new Boeing 737 Max 8? This a legitimate question to ask while search and rescue operations are in progress in Ethiopia after today’s Ethiopian Airlines crash.

Here is the sales pitch: The 737-800 delivers superior reliability, fuel efficiency and high-value returns that operators require in today’s competitive market. Its exceptional versatility and lower maintenance and operating costs provide a competitive edge regardless of business model or market.

eTN Chatroom: Discuss with readers from around the world:

Here are the facts:  The largest airline operating this type of plane is Southwest Airlines. Why did Southwest Airlines recently declared a maintenance emergency as reported on eTurboNews?

A brand new Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 crashed shortly after take off from Addis Ababa this morning on March 10, 2019 killing all 157 on board. On October 29, 2018 a brand new Boeing 737 Max 8 operated as Lion Air Flight 610 crashed into the Java Sea shortly after take off killing also everyone on board, 189 people.

Lion Air canceled a  $22 billion order for the Boeing 737 Max 8. Qatar Airways followed, but later decided to stay with its agreement with Boeing for the delivery of some 60 737-800 MAX aircraft.

In the most recent flight before the crash, from Denpasar on Bali to Jakarta, a Lion Air pilot issued a “Pan Pan” call – an urgency signal that is one level below “Mayday”. The crew said that the aircraft was operating in abnormal conditions due to instrument failure.

The air flight maintenance log on Lion Air showed six problems had been identified on the plane since 26 October, including errors with its airspeed and altitude information displays.

The global aviation industry is worried, at least behind the scene. The following airlines are currently operating Boeing Max 8 aircraft.

Here is a list of airlines and the number of Max 8 on order or in operation.

  1. Southwest Airlines: 250
  2. GECAS : 150
  3. Ryanair: 135
  4. FlyDubai: 131
  5. Jet Airways: 125
  6. Vet Jet Air: 120
  7. Spice Jet: 116
  8. Norwegian Air Shuttle: 110
  9. Gol Transportes Aereos: 105
  10. American Airlines; 100
  11. SMBC Aviation Capital: 91
  12. AerCap: 85
  13. BOC Aviation: 77
  14. Aviation Capital Group: 70
  15. China Development Bank: 68
  16. Avolon: 65
  17. Turkish Airlines: 65
  18. TUI Group: 54
  19. China Southern Airlines: 50
  20. Garuda Indonesia: 50
  21. ALAFCO: 40
  22. Jeju Air: 40
  23. Silk Air: 37
  24. Ethiopian Airlines: 30
  25. Jackson Square Aviation: 30
  26. Korean Air: 30
  27. Virgin Australia: 30
  28. Air Europa: 20
  29. Goshwak Aviation: 20
  30. Oman Air: 20
  31. Westjet: 20
  32. Donghai Airlines: 15
  33. Malaysia Airlines: 15
  34. SunExpress: 15
  35. Air China: 14
  36. Air Lease Corporation: 14
  37. China Eastern Airlines 13
  38. Aerolinas Argentinas: 11
  39. Aeromexico: 11
  40. Air Peace
  41. Japan Investment Advisor: 10
  42. Lion Air: 10
  43. Xiamen Air: 9
  44. Comair: 8
  45. Smartwings: 8
  46. Blue Ar: 6
  47. Nok Air: 6
  48. Shandong Airlines: 6
  49. Fiji Airways: 5
  50. Qatar Airways: 5
  51. Shenzhen Airlines: 5
  52. TAROM: 5
  53. Air Niugini: 4
  54. Royal Air Maroc: 4
  55. Hainan Airlines: 3
  56. Icelandair: 3
  57. Business Jet: 2
  58. Enter Air: 2
  59. SkyUp Airlines: 2
  60. 9 Air: 1
  61. Mauritania Airlines International : 1
  62. SCAT Airlines 1

Boeing issued a statement today saying: Boeing is aware of reports of an airplane accident and is closely monitoring the situation.

In the case of Lion Air  according to the preliminary report, problems continued.