From its inception, Boeing’s 737 Max was designed to save airlines the expense of training pilots on flight simulators. Simulator training costs money, which few in the aviation industry are keen on spending. “No additional simulator training” became a key – and successful – selling point for the MAX, which is perhaps symptomatic of the entire aviation industry’s race to the bottom and intense commercial pressure in all parts of the aviation chain.
The latest batch of internal Boeing messages reveal the extent to which Boeing management was obsessed with achieving and defending a common type rating for the MAX and the NG. An obsession that would contribute to two deadly accidents. The messages show management was dictating to its employees that they should block any regulatory requirement for airlines to train pilots in a simulator on the differences between the 737 MAX and its predecessor the 737 NG. Worse, Boeing persuaded Lion Air to forgo simulator training for its 737 MAX pilots.
