Boeing Initiates Program to Embed Experienced Pilots with New Airline Customers for Enhanced Aviation Safety

Boeing is taking proactive steps to enhance aviation safety by deploying experienced pilots to airlines undergoing training to operate Boeing aircraft. This initiative comes in the wake of two 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019, and it forms part of Boeing’s broader efforts to mitigate aviation safety risks.

During a recent media event in Washington, Boeing officials disclosed that a total of 125 “flight operations representatives” collaborated with over 60 airlines in 2022. According to Lacey Pittman, Boeing’s vice president of the global aerospace safety initiative, these representatives are dispatched to operators acquiring new fleet types based on identified needs and requests.

Mike Delaney, Boeing Chief Safety Officer, emphasized that while aviation regulators are responsible for assessing airlines’ readiness to operate new aircraft, having Boeing pilots on the ground enables the company to address any concerns regarding operational practices. Delaney stated, “We’ve had to make hard recommendations to some airlines, no doubt about that. All of them have accepted either our recommendation… and in some cases, we have offered additional resources from our company to help them do it.”

While Boeing traditionally deployed engineering and maintenance experts to assist airlines, the decision to send pilots on a semi-permanent basis to address flight operations procedures is a novel approach for the company. Boeing aims to recruit more flight operations representatives, who are predominantly retired airline pilots with extensive experience, often exceeding 13,000 flight hours, as stated by Pittman.

However, recruiting and retaining a workforce faces challenges due to the scarcity of pilots and the advanced age of Boeing’s existing representatives. Delaney acknowledged this by stating, “One challenge is that pilots are a scarce commodity. This is going to be a continuous effort to keep the pipeline full.”

Boeing’s commitment to improving aviation safety was highlighted during the media event, where they unveiled their second annual safety report—a requirement stemming from a 2021 legal settlement concerning the 737 MAX crashes that claimed the lives of 346 individuals. Additionally, Boeing officials showcased a collaborative machine learning algorithm developed with the Federal Aviation Administration. The algorithm analyzes “service difficulty reports,” which describe aircraft system malfunctions, to identify trends and enhance proactive maintenance practices.

By embedding experienced pilots, leveraging cutting-edge technology, and promoting collaboration, Boeing aims to foster safer operations within the aviation industry.