How Boeing Failed by Competing with the Airbus A320 Neo

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Boeing changed its culture when it acquired McDonnell Douglas. From a company that put engineers, investment, and innovation first, Boeing became a finance-driven company.

This went unnoticed — until Airbus, to everyone's surprise, launched the A320 Neo. The plane was more efficient and burned less fuel. How could Boeing compete? Start from scratch, or build on an existing aircraft already in its fleet? The manufacturer chose the latter. Cost management was paramount. They fitted it with a new, more powerful engine — but it was too large for the plane's ground clearance. Engineers decided to move it forward. This disrupted the aircraft's balance and shifted its center of gravity. They then added MCAS software to compensate, automatically pitching the nose down.

Cost management was again front and center when it came to pilot training on this redesigned aircraft. Was it a marketing move to claim no additional training was needed? Some pilots weren't even aware of the system when they boarded this redesigned 737.

The height of capitalism: the software package that includes the MCAS alert was sold as an optional add-on, left to the discretion of airlines. Ethiopian Airlines couldn't afford that luxury.

The accidents that followed fall into the category of complex failures — small mistakes compounding other small mistakes.

References

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The real reason Boeing's new plane crashed twice | Vox

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✈️ Qui a cassé Boeing ? | Les Echos