Boeing 737 MAX 7, page-2

A couple media commentaries on 737 Max APB issues:

"Boeing and a key supplier say that a newmanufacturing flaw could delay deliveriesof the 737 Max,
Boeing's best-sellingplane,Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems said theydiscovered improperly drilled fastenerholes in the aft pressure bulkhead -which maintains pressure when planesare at cruising altitude - on the fuselagesof some models of the 737 MaxWichita, Kansas-based Spirit said lateWednesday because it uses multiplesuppliers, only some units are impactedand it will continue to deliver fuselages tcBoeing.
Boeing said the issue does not affectalready in flight, service and can 737 keep Max flying. planessafety of"This issue will impact near-term 737deliveries as we conduct inspections todetermine the number of airplanesaffected, and complete required reworkon those airplanes," Boeing said in astatement. "We continue to deliver 737sthat are not affected."

"Aircraft manufacturers have wrestledwith supply issues in recent years. SpiritAeroSystems builds the fuselage forBoeing's 737 Max narrowbody jet andsubstantial sections of aircraft bodies inother Boeing models. The companybuilds components for Airbus aircraft aswell.The flaw, in which some fastener holeswere found to be elongated, is a setbackin Boeing's plan to deliver 400 to 450 Maxjets this year, and "some downwardrevision seems likely," said Cowenaerospace analyst Cai von Rumohr.
"The analyst said that Boeing hasdelivered only 17 737s in Augustcompared with 32 in July. Boeing getsabout 60% of the plane's purchase priceupon delivery, so every delay of 10deliveries pushes back cash flow byabout $300 million - plus the cost ofinspections and remedial work - vonRumohr said.In April, Boeing cautioned that productionand delivery of a "significant number" ofits 737 Max planes could be delayedbecause of questions about SpiritAeroSystems' work on the fuselages

"All Max planes were grounded worldwidefor nearly two years after a pair of deadlycrashes, and production flaws halteddeliveries of the larger 787 jetliner severaltimes in the past three years.
"Shares of Spirit AeroSystems HoldingsInc. were down 14% in afternoon tradingThursday, while Arlington, Virginia-basedBoeing Co's stock slipped more than 3%AP Airlines Writer David Koenig in Dallascontributed to this report"

And Flight Global:


"Only ‘some’ 737 fuselages affected by aft bulkhead issue:
Spirit AeroSystemsBy David Kaminski-Morrow24 August 2023 Source:

"Spirit AeroSystemsUS supplier Spirit AeroSystems states that it will continue to deliver fuselages to Boeing’s 737 programme, because not all are affected by a newly-discovered quality issue involving the aft pressure bulkhead..."
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