Boeing Completes 737 MAX 8 Firm Configuration
RENTON, Wash., July 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) has completed the firm configuration of the 737 MAX 8. This milestone marks completion of the major trade studies that define the capabilities of the 737 MAX family.
"We have defined the design requirements for the 737 MAX that provide our customers with the most value in the single-aisle market," said Michael Teal, chief project engineer, 737 MAX, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We continue to follow our disciplined process to ensure that we have completed all the requirements for the development stage of the program and are ready to begin the detailed design phase."
As detailed designs are completed and released, production can begin. Final assembly of the 737 MAX 8 is scheduled to begin in 2015 with first delivery scheduled for the third quarter of 2017.
The Seattle Times story linked previously details how internal concerns were waved off in 2014:
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/boeing-whistleblowers-complaint-says-737-max-safety-upgrades-were-rejected-over-cost/
[Michael] Teal, 737 MAX chief project engineer, could not be reached for comment.
This other story documents how during 2016, Boeing knew MCAS had problems:
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/times-watchdog/the-inside-story-of-mcas-how-boeings-737-max-system-gained-power-and-lost-safeguards/
The Max account was created Nov 4, 2016. Out of 189 posts so far, ~77 are in this thread alone.