737 Max Flight Delays for those in route
https://www.cnn.com/business/live-news/alaska-airlines-boeing-01-06-24/index.html
United is in stand down. Stuck in Dulles / DC Airport.
I rebooked just in case...wondering what others are doing. I don't think we will miss the game but it is always something.
January 6th, 2024 at 5:32 PM ^
No one was hurt significantly in the original incident... fyi.
Just wondering if others are scheming this. We might want to connect at some point.
I will probably miss the Sklar Brothers. I'm hoping that is the biggest impact.
EDIT: We were canceled last night. Our 737 MAX 9 did not fly, and I don't know if any are. Good luck. Check with your airline. United has the most of these jets. See you at the game.
January 6th, 2024 at 5:47 PM ^
Yes, "nobody was hurt significantly in the original incident" --- but there was some luck involved.
If (1) the blow-out happens at 30,000 feet instead of 16K, or (2) if the plug, after failure, had hit the tail (instead of missing the plane and falling harmlessly somewhere down into the Cascades) and done some damage, or (3) if the blow-out was bigger, or et cetera, et cetera ............ that very well could have been an event with fatalities.
Scary stuff - the FAA really has no choice but to temporarily ground them and order inspections.
Not the best start to 2024 for the aviation industry as a whole (the fatal incident at Tokyo Haneda on the 2nd).
January 6th, 2024 at 6:05 PM ^
I feel like plug isn’t a good description. When I hear that I think of something small. The “plug” was larger than a normal airplane door opening. It is described as refrigerator sized.
January 6th, 2024 at 6:13 PM ^
That's fair. "Plug" is the nomenclature but it's a big and weighty object. Very fortunate it didn't hit the airframe after separation.
January 6th, 2024 at 6:08 PM ^
Yes, this. I'm not an expert on commercial airliners or Boeing, but I have been a pilot and aircraft owner for 20 years, and agree that this could have been a bullet dodged.
Speaking of aviation though, I haven't seen this remarkable photo posted on this site (sorry if so).
Hope all of you en route to the game get there safely and with a minimum of inconvenience.
Edit: Photo changed to include version with credit to Michigan Sky Media. This one was from LinkedIn and attributed to Mr Leipprandt and that firm.
https://www.michiganskymedia.com/#/
January 6th, 2024 at 7:20 PM ^
I am very interested in the story behind how somebody gets permission to fly anywhere near a stealth bomber, let alone directly over one.
January 6th, 2024 at 7:24 PM ^
I’m guessing this was taken from the Goodyear blimp. They take this photo at the Rose Bowl every year, as of late. And it’s always glorious.
You can purchase a framed version from MDen for a cool $350.
January 6th, 2024 at 7:31 PM ^
It's just a single guy out of Sherman Oaks in a Cessna, who gets permission from the FAA & Pasadena police to be in the air space. He's been doing it for about 10 years now. I don't know him personally, but a friend of mine does.
January 6th, 2024 at 10:06 PM ^
I heard he got married recently.
January 6th, 2024 at 9:58 PM ^
Thanks, that explains how, I now got a gallery of prints from this company.
January 6th, 2024 at 7:39 PM ^
Sounds like they didn’t need it, unless there was some other restriction I’m not aware of. I read somewhere that the TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction area) had a ceiling of something like 4,500’ so the camera crew positioned in a helicopter a little above that ceiling.
There’s also video from above that’s equally spectacular.
Edit: It sounded to me like there were two crews, one was the Cessna Nittany references and this Michigan crew. I think the Michigan crew did it for the M-OSU game this year as well.
If you’re looking for a cheaper option than the MDen they have prints for sale on their respective websites. I’ve already asked for one for this coming Christmas.
January 6th, 2024 at 8:44 PM ^
Connor Stalions knows a guy in Thousand Oaks who sells used carpet cleaners who has a cousin in Tarzana that uses drones to film Malibu mansions for real estate agents. Asked him if he could handle a Stealth Bomber over the Rose Bowl. Sure, no problem bro!
January 6th, 2024 at 10:31 PM ^
Flying drones is actually illegal across the whole of Malibu! NCAA violations forthcoming!
January 6th, 2024 at 9:39 PM ^
Best photo I've seen yet of this flyover. Props to the photographer.
January 7th, 2024 at 6:25 AM ^
Awesome pic and post thanks this!
January 6th, 2024 at 6:46 PM ^
We prefer the term ‘empennage’ rather than ‘tail’. The Michigan Difference.
January 7th, 2024 at 12:53 AM ^
I'm about to land in Tokyo. I will update if we hit another plane.
January 6th, 2024 at 9:27 PM ^
"This airplane is designed by clowns, who are in turn supervised by monkeys."
I'll be damned if I'll ever get on a 737 Max of any type.
January 7th, 2024 at 1:06 PM ^
it irks me that a company with massive wealth and power designs planes that have cheap flaws like cut outs for doors that are not used. Pathetic. What happened to ethics in this fucking world?
January 7th, 2024 at 4:17 PM ^
Entirely stupid “plug” design which is held on by 4 bolts?! And is not held into place by pressurized cabin. Rather it is smaller than the aperture and thus ejected when those bolts fail!
This happened on a 10 week old jet!
January 7th, 2024 at 4:53 PM ^
detailed in this video at the 7:30 mark. This plug looks to be only available on Max9 so it’s a relatively new assembly?
January 6th, 2024 at 5:35 PM ^
I work for GE Aerospace and we received an email earlier today saying the FAA has grounded every 737 Max 9s for every domestic carrier until January 10. This is for sure going to screw up a lot of peoples travel plans.
January 6th, 2024 at 5:47 PM ^
Link is showing Alaska has 18 737 Max 9 that are back in service. I rebooked Austin for tomorrow thinking it would be a smaller plane.
EDIT: Always follow your engineer! Thanks Hillbillyblue...had I listened to you I would be 4 hours ahead on sleep. Instead I chased larks and sat on a plane of Huskies waiting for a pilot that never came.
January 6th, 2024 at 6:42 PM ^
Nice knowin’ ya.
January 6th, 2024 at 7:09 PM ^
They are inspecting the plane now. FAA must have issued a bulletin. Pilot and crew still have time. We will see.
January 6th, 2024 at 9:15 PM ^
The drama continues but the 737 Max 9 is DOA. At new gate now for an A300. Cluster of a situation but there's always stuff to do. No regrets if we get there at foot to ball. Go Blue!
January 6th, 2024 at 9:37 PM ^
After getting a great hotel reservation in New Jersey courtesy of United ( yeah...I am in Dulles and the hotel is indeed Jersey ) it looks like the flight is going to go on an A300.
Alamo is going to wait until 2am as well. God Bless 'murica.
Might even make the Sklar Brothers at this rate.
Surrounded by Huskies at the moment. They are talking and confident.
Everybody have a good game wherever you are. Go Blue! You filthy animals!
January 6th, 2024 at 5:37 PM ^
I hope everyone going makes it there safely and on time. Keeping things in perspective, missing the game would be better than dying in a plane crash.
I was on a 737 Max 8 earlier in the week and was wondering if they had resolved all of the issues with the 737 Max.
January 6th, 2024 at 6:20 PM ^
Max 8's aren't part of the inspections - only Max 9's
January 6th, 2024 at 5:49 PM ^
If I wanted to explain the workings of the USA in 2023 to a time traveler, the 737 MAX would be a good start.
January 6th, 2024 at 5:55 PM ^
Im going on a 737-900. Is that the same thing? Google is giving me conflicting results. Flying in Monday morning 😢
January 6th, 2024 at 6:00 PM ^
Different planes. A 737 MAX 9 will very explicitly say MAX in the airliner description.
On FlightAware, the 737 MAX 9 is listed as "B39M" under airplane type, the 737-900 is "B739".
Two examples of planes that just landed at LAX:
January 6th, 2024 at 6:03 PM ^
I'm not an expert but I think the Max is the next generation 737 and the 737-900 is the prior generation and the 737-900's are not grounded.
January 6th, 2024 at 6:07 PM ^
Yep. 737-900 has been around ~ 20 years and has an excellent track record (no fatalities ever, and only 1 even somewhat concerning incident ever).
January 6th, 2024 at 6:14 PM ^
Thank you both! 😅
January 6th, 2024 at 6:28 PM ^
That is correct
I am on a 737-700 so I was checking that all out
January 6th, 2024 at 6:29 PM ^
That is correct
I am on a 737-700 so I was checking that all out
January 6th, 2024 at 6:11 PM ^
Jeez. Better safe than sorry, but yes. It's always something.
Arrive in Houston safely, and absorb every millisecond of Michigan's national championship game.
January 6th, 2024 at 6:17 PM ^
Flying in a Boeing 737-8 Max. Should I cancel?
January 6th, 2024 at 6:43 PM ^
If you're upgraded and can receive free alcohol, I recommend flying.
January 6th, 2024 at 7:02 PM ^
Max 8's aren't part of the inspections - only Max 9's
January 6th, 2024 at 8:06 PM ^
Max 8s we're just the ones that crashed a few years ago and the FAA is letting the airlines skip/delay safety measures. No big deal
January 6th, 2024 at 6:28 PM ^
Keep your seat belt buckled, and you'll be fine.
January 6th, 2024 at 7:14 PM ^
Stop telling me what to do Putin! Now I have to ride unbuckled just to stick it to you. Is this a ploy to throw the election?
All kidding aside...the flight from DC is 50 50 Wolverine Dog. This isn't going to end well for the pups. They are traveling well it appears.
January 6th, 2024 at 8:34 PM ^
Amazing.
United? Yes.
DC? Yes.
Dulles? Yes.
Leaving in the morning? Yes.
737? No.
I was thinking of taking their offer to take a different flight but f it. I'm sticking to my current one
January 6th, 2024 at 8:54 PM ^
We may be on the same flight, the 6am out of Dulles to IAH is on an A320, thankfully.
January 6th, 2024 at 11:23 PM ^
I'm on an 845 flight. Huge plane, 787 maybe?
January 6th, 2024 at 8:50 PM ^
It looks like they found another plane to take Sextus to Houston tonight. Not a Max.
January 6th, 2024 at 11:20 PM ^
Flight was canceled after hours of x = x+1