On Wednesday in Washington, D.C., NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy noted the investigation into the door plug blowout in January near Portland, Oregon, has revealed that the message to Boeing workers is “you mess up, you get moved.”

The 737 flying as Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 had been in service less than four months when it lost a door plug on January 5 shortly after takeoff from Portland International Airport (KPDX). The airline grounded its fleet of 737 Max 9s and the FAA followed suit, keeping the airplanes on the ground out of an abundance of caution.

• READ MORE: NTSB Grills Boeing Over Max 9 Door Plug Loss

Within two weeks, the NTSB determined the door plug had been reinstalled without four retaining bolts. Two crews who flew the aircraft prior to the blowout reported issues with the pressurization system. The aircraft was slated to go into maintenance.

On the first day of testimony on Tuesday, Boeing officials stated that during the build process the door plug was removed from the fuselage at the Renton, Washington, factory in order to replace substandard rivets. The required paperwork authorizing and tracking the removal and subsequent reinstallation has still not been found.

Homendy stressed that no evidence has been discovered to suggest the improper installation of the door plug was anything more than a mistake. Boeing has stated there is a no-retaliation policy, and it should not implement disciplinary action for unintentional mistakes.

However, Homendy questioned that assertion, citing a decision by Boeing to move two members of the door installation crew from the plant at Renton to the factory in Everett, Washington, describing it as “a form of retaliation.” There were references to Boeing employees calling the Everett facility a “cage,” “jail,” or “prison” for workers who speak up about safety issues or report mistakes.

• READ MORE: Boeing Names New CEO to Lead Through ‘Consequential Period’

During the proceedings there were several mentions of how lucky the people aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 had been, as there were injuries but no loss of life. Several officials noted that had the aircraft been much higher, the damage and outcome likely would have been much different.

A representative from the flight attendants union described his emotions when he learned of the blowout on the jet that had only been in service since October, realizing he had been assigned to the aircraft on a previous trip.

Much of the testimony over the past two days carried the theme of an “accident waiting to happen” because of a lack of oversight, rush jobs, and hastily trained and overworked technicians. Those who testified spoke of a factory culture where employee training is rushed or sometimes incomplete. In addition, employee turnover is frequent, resulting in employees with limited experience who don’t recognize a mistake or hazard on the floor during the build process.

Boeing officials touted the “speak up” process that encourages employees to call attention to airplane safety issues by reporting them to a manager or anonymously. However, many employees when questioned stated that they were not familiar with the “speak up” process, or they feared retaliation, saying “nothing within the Boeing system is confidential.”

• READ MORE: Boeing to Plead Guilty in DOJ 737 Max Crash Cases

It was noted that Boeing has faced accusations of retaliation against whistleblowers in the past, most notably in 2018 and 2019 after the two 737 Max crashes that killed 346 people. Both crashes were attributed to the MCAS, an automated system that put the aircraft into unrecoverable dives shortly after takeoff. The subsequent investigation revealed the pilots had not been told of or trained on the use of the system.

FAA representatives stated that the agency hotline has received an increase in reports of safety concerns from Boeing employees and those from Spirit AeroSystems, a Boeing contractor that builds the components of the 737 fuselage, such as the door plugs, since the accident.

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Testifying before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy said that despite numerous requests, NTSB has not received the names of 25 people working at the company’s Renton, Washington, facility responsible for opening, closing, and removing the door plug involved in the January 5 event or documentation supporting their work.

“Wow,” responded the committee’s ranking member, Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who asked for the update. “Are you telling us that even two months later you still do not know who actually opened the door plug?”

“That’s correct—and it’s not for lack of trying,” Homendy said, pointing out that it’s not unusual when critical information is not provided immediately after an investigation.

“But for this one, we know for a fact that there is a team that deals with the doors in Renton. The manager has been out on medical leave, so we’ve not been able to interview that individual. We’ve asked for the names of the other 25 people and have not received the names. We’ve asked for the records with respect to what occurred. We asked what shift did it occur on. It’s absurd that two months later we don’t have that.”

• READ MORE: FAA Gives Boeing 90 Days to Improve

When asked by committee chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) whether Boeing has a policy of maintaining documents on work such as installing or removing doors and door plugs, Homendy said the NTSB has not been able to verify that with Boeing.

“And without that information, that raises concerns about quality assurance, quality management, and safety management systems within Boeing,” Homendy said.

Said Cantwell: “It’s beyond disappointing. We have an entire economy that depends on people getting this right, and it seems like this…is stymying your investigation.”

Shortly after the hearing ended, Boeing responded to FLYING’s request for comment with a statement asserting that the company “early in the investigation” provided NTSB with names of employees, including door specialists, that it believed had relevant information.

“We have now provided the full list of individuals on the 737 door team, in response to a recent request. With respect to documentation, if the door plug removal was undocumented there would be no documentation to share. We will continue to cooperate fully and transparently with the NTSB’s investigation.”

Spirit AeroSystems Called Out

Homendy also testified to transparency problems with Spirit AeroSystems, the Wichita, Kansas-based manufacturer of fuselages for the Boeing 737. Spirit has also been part of the investigation.

Referring to individuals that NTSB believed were employed by Spirit, “we were just informed last week that they’re actually not Spirit employees, they’re contractors,” she told the committee. “All three people work for three different entities.”

NTSB was not informed of that by Spirit. “That information was told to us through the individuals being interviewed that contacted us directly. We have engaged our attorney on this matter, just so that you’re aware,” she said.

Spirit representative Joe Buccino told FLYING that, as a party to the NTSB investigation, “we are unable to comment on any matters associated with the investigation. We are coordinating with the NTSB to address the chair’s comments regarding this matter.”

• READ MORE: Boeing Confirms Discussions About Acquiring Spirit AeroSystems

Cruz, who called the lack of response from Boeing “utterly unacceptable,” asked Homendy to inform the committee in writing whether or not the aerospace giant provides the information requested by NTSB by March 13.

“This investigation needs to get to the bottom of what occurred, and what caused the accident,” Cruz said.

The post NTSB Chief Testifies That Boeing Is Stonewalling on 737 Door Plug Blowout appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

As we’ve documented throughout Women’s History Month 2022, despite navigating the challenges of a male-dominated space, women are achieving great things in and for the aviation industry. Our final spotlight for this month shines on the women who make decisions every day that help shape the industry in many different sectors.

Apart from celebrating their amazing accomplishments, we hope that this list serves as inspiration for young women who might be just starting their aviation careers. We hope that this list lets them know that if they reach for the top, they can, in fact, change the world.

Cargo: Sarah C. Rhoads, Vice President, Amazon Global Air

After putting together a prolific 12-year military career as a U.S. Navy F-18 pilot, Sarah Rhoads didn’t expect that her next campaign would be to help Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZON) create a juggernaut air cargo network.

“I was a bit surprised when Amazon first contacted me as I had initially focused on pursuing a more traditional path of a transitioning military pilot,” Rhoads said in a company blog in 2016.

Rhoads admitted to an audience at the 2020 National Governors Association Winter Meeting that even she was caught off guard by how quickly Amazon built up its air cargo network. The company’s fast rise into air cargo essentially mirrored her ascent there.

“When I first joined Amazon nine years ago, it certainly wasn’t a thought that an e-commerce company would be building an air haul network,” Rhoads said.

By the time she spoke at the conference, the Montana native shared that she’d lived in 11 states, and her LinkedIn profile shows she’s completed stints for the company in London and Wales. Starting with Amazon as a regional director of operations, by 2017, Rhoads was appointed the director of Amazon Air, which evolved in 2019 into her current role as vice president of Amazon Global Air. That’s not the usual career trajectory of someone with a mechanical engineering degree from the U.S. Naval Academy, but based on the outcomes she’s achieved for Amazon, Rhoads is clearly well placed.

Today, Amazon Air operates a fleet of 97 airplanes, including ATR 72s and Boeing 737s and 767s, which it operates through partners. In 2020, when air carriers all over were grounded by vanishing passenger demand resulting from the pandemic, Amazon launched new gateway operations in Richmond, Virginia; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Austin, Texas; Maui and Kona, Hawaii; Los Angeles, California; and New Orleans, Louisiana, and regional hubs in Lakeland, Florida; Rockford, Illinois; and Baltimore, Maryland. And during this same timeframe, while Europe was closed off to the world because of stringent border restrictions, the company launched a new state-of-the-art facility at the Leipzig-Halle Airport (EDDP) in Germany.

In August 2021, Rhoads announced the company had begun operating out of its new air hub at Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport (KCVG), a $1.5 billion investment spanning 600 acres.

Rhoads has been present for each successive step forward, which is why in 2018, Air Cargo World named her its Air Cargo executive of the year.

It’s hard to predict how vast Amazon’s Air Cargo network will become, but the broader cargo industry is certainly on notice with Rhoads at the helm.

Business: Phebe Novakovic, CEO, General Dynamics

If you listen to quarterly earnings calls for the 500 highest grossing companies, you won’t hear many female voices leading the reports and fielding questions from analysts and reporters. In fact, when you narrow that list down to companies in the aviation and aerospace sectors, chances are you’ll only hear one female voice: Phebe Novakovic, CEO of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).

Apart from those appearances, she doesn’t accept many interviews, perhaps from the insights she gained in her previous roles at both the Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of Defense. Rest assured, however, when she speaks, people listen.

Since 2012, Novakovic has presided over General Dynamics businesses that also include marine, missile, combat, information systems, and more. With General Dynamics ownership of Gulfstream, she’s also privy to bringing to market some of the most in-demand business jets. In the 2021 end of year earnings call, Novakovic celebrated Gulfstream’s most prolific year since 2008, amid strong demand from new operators.

Altogether, this may explain why Forbes consistently recognizes Novakovic in its annual list of The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women. 

Airlines: Joanna Geraghty, President and COO, JetBlue 

In 2018, Joanna Geraghty became the president and COO at JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ: JBLU), making her the highest-ranking female executive in the U.S. airline industry. In her role, Geraghty is responsible for JetBlue’s operations and commercial performance including network, brand and marketing, and revenue management.

It’s not the typical career track for a trained lawyer, and former law partner from the prestigious Holland & Knight firm, but it’s in the vicinity of where she began at the then up and coming airline when she joined in 2005 as director of litigation and regulatory.

Since then, New York’s hometown airline has established its footprint throughout the northeastern U.S., the Caribbean, Latin America, and more recently, the U.K. Along the way, Geraghty had personal triumphs in multiple executive and vice president roles, including general counsel, people officer, and customer experience, before becoming only the second woman to run a major U.S. airline.

She’s helped the airline navigate the pandemic, especially given its location in New York City—one of the places hit hardest by COVID-19. Elsewhere, Geraghty has advocated for initiatives to expose more young people, especially girls, to the aviation industry and jobs as pilots.

Military: Jacqueline Van Ovost

U.S. Air Force Gen. Jacqueline D. Van Ovost is the 14th commander of U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), one of 11 combatant commands in the Department of Defense. In 2021, she became the Defense Department’s only four-star female general, and the fifth in Air Force history, during a ceremony at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. When she joined the Air Force 32 years ago, Ovost didn’t expect that she’d climb this far, especially since she failed her first physical fitness test because she couldn’t complete the required number of pull-ups.

“Standing in the stadium, in 1988 at the Air Force Academy, about to throw my hat in the air, I never would have thought I [would become] a four-star,” Van Ovost said in Air Force Magazine.

Instead, she said she’d work hard to be the best pilot she could be. Over three decades, she flew more than 4,200 hours, piloting 30 different aircraft. When she initially tried to join, the Air Force wasn’t looking for female fighter pilots. She had to work her way up, a journey that began with flying the C-141 Starlifter before achieving her long-term desire to be a test pilot of whatever aircraft the Air Force would allow her to fly.

Now, in her new role, Van Ovost wants to make the Air Force a more attractive place to serve for diverse groups of people. In her interview with Air Force Magazine, she spoke about tangible changes the organization can make to attract women, such as changing flight gear and uniforms, creating a more accommodating fitness schedule and pregnancy programs, and easing old restrictions that are irrelevant. 

She’s also laser focused on bringing the KC-46 Pegasus—a Boeing 767 turned re-fueler—into full initial operational capability, and accelerating the use of new technologies, like virtual reality, to assist the command with missions and training.

Government: Jennifer Homendy, NTSB Chair

In August 2021, Jennifer Homendy took her oath as chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), becoming the fourth woman to lead the agency, and the 15th chair in its history.

Her role isn’t a simple one—she’s responsible for ensuring safety across all modes of transportation, aviation being just one. Thankfully, she’s leaning into the challenge and has the skills and experience to lead the board in its important work.

In her swearing in ceremony, Homendy shared, “We are in a time of dynamic change and growth within transportation—from automated vehicles to commercial space. This means that our mission to prevent tragedies and injuries and save lives is even more critical. The country needs a robust and energetic NTSB to ensure safety is well represented in all modes of transportation. I look forward to supporting our outstanding staff and their work as we endeavor to make transportation safer for all.”

Homendy’s experience, which includes work as a union official, as the Democratic staff director for the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Material, and as a member of the NTSB, should serve her well as head of the independent safety board.  

As a member of the NTSB since 2018, Homendy participated on the board’s investigation response team that uncovered the causes of the May 2019 midair collision of two aerial tour aircraft in Alaska; the June 2019 skydiving aircraft accident in Hawaii; and the January 2020 helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and eight others.

Prominently, in the Kobe Bryant crash, she charged the FAA with failing to act on previous NTSB recommendations to improve safety systems. Specifically, on the NTSB’s most wanted list for aviation are safety management systems for all revenue passenger operations, and crash-resistant recorders and flight data monitoring programs.

With the latest wave of innovation, including the integration of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems into the National Airspace System, there will be plenty of new safety challenges for Homendy and the NTSB. This unique time in history and Homendy’s leadership experience place her in a position to make a difference for the industry.

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