I hate to be this cynical, but I wonder about industrial espionage and purposeful design flaws.
They will probably find a way to blame this on Trump. This model started selling in May 2016. If Trump had replaced all the Clinton/Bush/Obama FAA people an early 2016 they would have said that caused the design problems.
Seems like training was a big problem too. Pilots overseas didn’t know the MCAS system was there whereas domestic pilots knew to turn it off.
I don’t believe the MAX was ever submitted for a new type certificate.
There apparently is a “minor modification” process which is less stringent (and less costly) than being certified as what amounts to a new aircraft.
The questions will be 1) Were the modifications to the 737 sufficient to require a lengthy certification process such as would be needed for a new aircraft, and 2) If yes, was this avoided by bribery or some other form of corruption (since none of the new forms of incentive for bureaucrats or congress folk seem to qualify as bribery).
Here is a similar article from the Seattle times
Training issue!
One of the Ethiopian pilots only had 200, yes only 200 flight hours. In the US, commercial pilots require 15,000 flight hours.
As a result, the government sees its role is in part to drive business to these companies. They allowed Boeing to self-regulate its airliner business because any loss by Boeing is a loss by the U.S., and they balance Boeing and Lockheed in the military airplane space often buying Lockheed fighter airplanes then granting Boeing no-bid transport airplane contracts (like the 767 tanker).
In my opinion, the 737 MAX problem is not a major design flaw, it is something that can be fixed easily. Runaway trim caused by a faulty angle of attack sensor, combined with poor pilot training is readily fixable. Fix the sensor, perhaps add a redundant AOA sensor, train the pilots to disengage the MACA automatic trim system at the first sign of any concern. Perhaps modify the system to disengage based on pilot input to the control column as happens on earlier 737s which have a similar stall prevention system.
People are overreacting about the derivative design of the 737 Max. Airplane manufacturers have been building derivative designs for over 70 years, at least since the DC-6 was derived from the DC-4.
People are overreacting about the automated pitch control system of the 737 Max. Airplane manufacturers have been including automated stability for over half a century, at least since the DC-8's had such a system.
Yes, fix the FAA and the FAA's certification system. Yes, fix Boeing. Yes, fix the 737 Max. But everyone needs to realize this is not the end of an airplane or the end of a company.