Even though Boeing’s 737 Max planes have been grounded across the globe, the company continues to manufacture them. However, Boeing has now said that it will “temporarily” slow down the production of the jet. The cut in production will remain in effect as Boeing continues to work on the promised software update for the jet’s flight control system.
It’s this flight control system that’s believed to be at fault in two fatal Boeing 737 Max 8 crashes merely five months apart. It was only after the second crash that the aircraft was gradually grounded in many countries across the globe. Boeing later promised a software update which would fix the shortcomings of the system.
Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg said that by the mid of April, Boeing is going to reduce the production of the 737 Max planes from 52 per month to 42 per month. He said that this production cut will “accommodate the pause in Max deliveries” while also freeing up additional resources which can be used to focus on software certification and making sure that the Max can take to the skies again in safety.
“When the Max returns to the skies, we’ve promised our airline customers and their passengers and crews that it will be as safe as any airplane ever to fly,” Muilenburg added.