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TB_AMeylan_737MAX_210602.pdf
Bachelor thesis

How has the design, development and regulation of the 737 MAX changed pilots’ perception of stakeholders involved in aviation safety ? : an exploratory study

SONAR|HES-SO

  • Genève : Haute école de gestion de Genève

125 p.

Bachelor of Science HES in International Business Management: Haute école de gestion de Genève, 2021

English The Boeing 737 MAX is the subject of multiple investigations and lawsuits around the world. It will be forever associated with the tragic and preventable deaths of 346 people killed in two separate crashes within five months in 2018-2019, an extraordinary fact given the significant advances in aviation safety over the last two decades and the plane brand new certification. The 737 MAX showcase the multiple failures in how Boeing is manufacturing planes as well as how the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) is regulating them. In both crashes, the Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) was activated on erroneous data readings. This new system pushed the nose of the airplane down until it forced the airplane into a nose-down attitude from which the pilots were unable to recover. Even though the consequences of the activation of the MCAS lead to catastrophic consequences, pilots were unaware of its existence. This thesis explores how the design, development and regulation of the 737 MAX changed pilots’ perception of the stakeholders involved in aviation safety. This exploratory study analyses three stakeholders. First, Boeing for its role in the design and production of the 737 MAX. Second, the FAA for its regulatory role. Third and mainly, pilots’ perception of their role in public safety. In-depth interviews were conducted with eight pilots. First, pilots expressed a 100% trust in Boeing believing that they manufacture safe aircrafts. However, over 60% of respondents indicated that their perception of Boeing was negatively impacted by the 737 MAX. Second, 75% of pilots interviewed explained that their perception of the FAA changed, largely crediting its loss of credibility. Finally, pilots’ perception of their role in public safety remained unchanged for 75% of respondents. This surprising result is explained by the fact that pilots’ perception changed for other stakeholders involved in aviation safety. The double failure – Boeing lack of technicity and the FAA lack of oversight - shocked the industry. Boeing needed to design the 737 MAX to compete with Airbus A320 NEO. Asking pilots for their professional opinion on the 737 MAX offers a better understanding of the consequences of the 737 MAX crashes as well as a singular view on some stakeholders involved in the safety of today’s aviation industry.
Language
  • English
Classification
Economics
Notes
  • Haute école de gestion Genève
  • International Business Management
  • hesso:hegge
Persistent URL
https://sonar.rero.ch/global/documents/319580
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