US Air Force says Boeing has 'severe situation' after trash found on refueling planes

[dalton99a]

Last edited Fri Mar 15, 2019, 12:54 PM - Edit history (1)

https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/14/politics/air-force-boeing-refueling-plane/index.html

US Air Force says Boeing has 'severe situation' after trash found on refueling planes
By Barbara Starr, CNN Pentagon Correspondent
Updated 5:13 PM ET, Thu March 14, 2019

(CNN) In a blistering attack on Boeing, the Air Force's top acquisition official said the company has a "severe situation" with flawed inspections of its new KC-46 air refueling tanker aircraft, after trash and industrial tools were found in some planes after they were delivered to the Air Force.

Dr. Will Roper, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics, made clear his concerns after visiting Boeing's Everett Washington plant where the plane is assembled.

"I left concerned, and I also left thinking Boeing understands they have a severe situation that's going to take top level engagement from their company," Roper said.

After discovering the problem, the Air Force stopped accepting the new tankers from Boeing on February 20.

[theophilus]

1. This sort of thing will be more common under the "No Regulation" Republicans. n/t

[fleur-de-lisa]

2. Good grief!

[Baitball Blogger]

3. Yep. Privatization is the answer to all our problems.

[fescuerescue]

5. I think aircraft production has always been private

I'm trying to come up with an example of an aircraft, or spacecraft for that matter that wasn't made by a private company.

I really can't but being I'm really curious if this has happened. I bet it has.

[Baitball Blogger]

9. Did someone say, "faulty o-rings"?

Whenever it comes to cutting costs, private companies are famous for cutting corners and endangering lives. That's what makes this Trump era so scary. He reflects that kind of management style.

[fescuerescue]

10. Not a great example but I agree

Morton-Thiokol held an hour long presentation prior to the launch re-iterating that the O-Rings were only designed for temps to 31F, and have only been tested to 51f. The day of the launch temps were predicted to be in the low 20s and urged NASA to not launch.

NASA ignored the private contractors warnings proceeded to launch anyway. The O-Rings failed, after being used in environment they were never tested for, nor designed for (28F degrees).

So why did that happen?

This was due to political pressure from Reagan to get Christa Mckuffle into space as he had a prepared speech, the launch had been delayed several times already. (that's the short version)

[Baitball Blogger]

11. Thank you for that information.

I remember that morning. I was pumping gas on Colonial when it happened. It was a miserable nippy cold and an empty blue sky. That twisted "Y" looked all wrong, but I had to head off to a dentist appointment. I was in the chair when I heard the dentist assistants talking about what had happened.

Never realized all the politics behind what happened. Thanks, again.

[CurtEastPoint]

4. Proudly made in NON-UNION South Carolina. Thanks, Nikki.

[TexasProgresive]

7. Plane was assembled in Washington.

[fescuerescue]

8. article says it was made in Everet Washington

But I don't think this a real issue. Smells more like the AF is busting Boeing balls over some other beef that neither wants to be made public.

[fescuerescue]

6. I wish they included pictures

Trash can be anything from stray corner of paper to loads of kitchen waste. Tools. same. I know a girl once who got cited by a cop for "dumping trash on highway". What did she do? she was pulled over for a speeding violation, copn asked her to step out and when she did the wind caught a scrap a paper.

Honestly I don't think this is a political situation.

Sounds more like Dr Roper, the airforce acquisition guy is busting Boeings balls over some other beef.

[Hekate]

12. That's a big deal, as it shows the final inspection was sloppy as hell. What else did they miss?

And why is this also Boeing?