The Canadian airline Air Canada has completed a lease deal with BOC Aviation Limited for eight Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
The airline is deliberately dropping the MAX from its publicity to obfuscate details from the flying public as to the model of aircraft they are passengers on. The eight aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2024 and will undergo special safety-required modifications before entering service in 2025. The aircraft will initially operate with a single Economy class layout until they are reconfigured to fully match the onboard experience our customers enjoy in Air Canada's narrow-body, two-cabin standard at a later date. All eight aircraft will be powered by CFM LEAP-1B engines.
"We look forward to these aircraft entering into service next year, upon the completion of some required modifications," said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada.
"We are pleased that Canada's flag carrier, Air Canada, is working with us once again as it strengthens its network," said Steven Townend, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of BOC Aviation.
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The Boeing 737 MAX 8 type has experienced a very troubled history, it is an aircraft that has been beset by significant flaws that led to two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, resulting in a total of 346 fatalities.
The MAX 8 was equipped with a new system called the Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS). Its purpose was to stabilize the aircraft if it pitched up at an excessively high angle of attack (AoA). However, the MAX 8's tendency to pitch up was due to poor engine positioning in the new model. Boeing's reliance on MCAS to fix this inherently unstable design proved to be a critical mistake by the US manufacturer. Another mistake was the choice by Boeing to not disclose openly the existence of MCAS to pilots, this left them them to fly an aircraft they did not fully understand and would find difficult to control. Even though the MAX 8 had two AoA sensors, MCAS was designed to activate based on the readings of just one, which could then force the aircraft's nose down.
There is little doubt that Boeing rushed the design and certification process of the 737 MAX leading to oversights of a critical nature, including inadequate pilot and maintenance engineer training. A number of failures occurred in investigating incident reports prior to the two crashes which indicated a lack of management concern in selling a flawed jet and a focus on driving up profits.
The troubles for Boeing are not yet over regarding the 737 MAX, CNN reported last month that the families that lost loved ones in two Boeing 737 Max crashes claim Boeing committed the “deadliest corporate crime in US history” and asked the Justice Department to fine the company the maximum $24 billion it could face in a criminal trial.
