Key sensor on doomed Boeing 737 Max in Indonesia traced to Minnesota company

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

The investigation into last fall's crash of a Boeing 737 Max jet in Indonesia — one of two air disasters that have grounded the plane worldwide — could come to Minnesota as officials look at whether air sensors played a role in the crash.

The Washington Post reports that Rosemount Aerospace Inc., a Burnsville-based unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), made a key sensor for Lion Air Flight 610, which crashed off of Indonesia last October. The sensor is used to measure so-called "angle of attack," the angle between a plane's wing and the direction of the air and crucial data in determining whether a plane has enough lift.

It's not known what caused the Lion Air crash, but officials have considered whether sensors played a role by delivering improper signals to flight software meant to automatically adjust the plane's flight. Another 737 Max jet crashed in Ethiopia last week, prompting calls to ground the 737 Max 8 airliner, but there's no word on whether air sensors are being investigated in that crash or if Rosemount Aerospace made the sensor for that jet.

The Star Tribune notes, however, that United Technologies has touted its role in building the 737 Max's sensing system. United Technologies acquired Rosemount, which employs 1,600 people in Burnsville, in 2012.

https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2019/03/20/key-sensor-on-doomed-boeing-737-max-in-indonesia.html?ana=e_me_set1&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWVRNNE5HVmhOak16TUdZMCIsInQiOiJTVnVpZ01XU1pLWFNQTHZaa3lUK1ErQ1U0S0hzaWg4OG4zV0hUUjlJXC9FZmJ4U2R1WjZuU1BTdGxMc3JBMXgrUHQ3Y1hmRkJZZXpXRmZpXC9CUUdqQm1JSDdzMG5HUWswYUN3N0RLZmlFXC9LdzBsekd0RjhHT2tLUFgxSjIzSzNhTiJ9

[MontanaMama]

1. So, the head engineer for the Max 8

recently retired at the age of 57 after 35+ years with Boeing. He's a childhood friend of my husband and we had dinner with him last weekend. He kept saying "the Max is safe, I'd fly one right now". I didn't say much...just sat and took it all in but he acknowledged that Boeing has known about the nose down problem for a long time. He said the quick fix is to disable the auto-pilot and the nose will come right back up and that they have a software patch that will solve the problem long term but it was all held up by the government shutdown and problems at the FAA in general due to the fact that there is only an acting chief of the FAA (Daniel Elwell who is a close friend of Elaine Chao) and many positions below Elwell that have gone unfilled since MF45 was unsuccessful at installing his personal pilot as the FAA Chief. Further, it was his opinion that the FAA had serious issues because of the lack of leadership and the relationship between Elwell and Chao. He also talked at length about the government shutdown caused airplanes to fall behind on maintenance and replacement of old parts...AND, that in some cases, the FAA requiring airlines to remove new parts (that hadn't been inspected due to the shutdown) and replace them with old parts that had outlived their known life spans (because at least they'd been inspected at some point) and that many of these are still being used because airline maintenance still hadn't caught up post shutdown. My mind reeled. I know this is hearsay, but I've know this guy for 30 years and my husband has known him his whole life...he's a straight shooter...who is relieved to be out of Boeing at the moment.

[exboyfil]

2. He should be connected with an investigative reporter

Not sure what NDAs or his current employment situation is (ie maybe he is now consulting). It is a compelling story that should be told.

[MontanaMama]

3. Yes. He's full on retired

thanks to Boeing stock options! We told him the same thing...tell this story. He didn't mention NDA's but I wouldn't doubt for a minute there's one in place. He had nothing good to say about the current maladministration, the FAA etc. It was actually frightening.