Originally Posted by
Big E 757
I heard today, just from a fellow crew member, who knows as much or less than the rest of us, that the 737Max never passed the wind tunnel testing. Some how, the aircraft, by virtue of the big ass engines, was not aerodynamic enough to pass the test?? I don’t even know how it works or what the wind tunnel test proves, or is, or if it’s a certification requirement.
I heard on the news that United or American was planning flights on the max to resume the first of the year, but with the increased scrutiny focused on the FAA because of this self certify, good old boys club attitude, it might be more difficult than originally planned.
I don’t know, I don’t work for an airline that flies the Max. Just sharing what I heard. I like Steve Dickson, (New head of the FAA). He’s a no nonsense guy and if you can be in charge of 14,000 pilots and rarely have a bad word said about you, you’re an exceptional leader. And that’s what we have. Hopefully the Max issues get worked out and those aircraft get back in the air, soon.
As the airframe is already categorized, wind tunnel is R/D not required for certification. In lay, its not a new plane. Boeing in all it's infinite wisdom tunnel-tested anyway. It sucked. That, I believe, was the antecedent antithesis for maneuvering augmentation.
SD as FAA head? Really doesn't matter. Nothing of his work at Delta shares commonality with running the FAA. This is a desk job were his influence on policy change is about as effective as trying to shoot a flea with a handgun. He does what he's told by either the parent boss, the WH, or top lobbyists. Easy Peasy.