CAL still confident about 737 Max despite crash
Cayman Airways 737 Max 8 pictured during flight tests before branding (click to enlarge)
(CNS): Officials at Cayman Airways Ltd (CAL) appear to remain confident in the decision to replace the national flag carrier’s aging fleet with the Boeing 737 Max 8, despite the recent crash in Indonesia of a relatively new plane and a safety alert from the manufacturer this week. CNS contacted CAL with questions about the pending arrival of the planes but the airline responded by issuing a public statement. Officials said they had been closely monitoring the investigation activities related to the tragic loss of Lion Air’s flight JT610 and suggested maintenance or actions taken in the flight deck during flight could have contributed to the accident. Boeing, however, has indicated a potential systems problem.
CAL said that while the investigations are still in progress, it accepted the warning from Boeing that one possible contributing factor is evidence of erroneous angle of attack flight data, which, if not detected and addressed correctly by the flight deck crew, could result in an unsafe flight situation. Boeing is advising airlines on procedures to deal with false readings from a plane sensor that authorities say malfunctioned on the jet that crashed.
Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, and the United States Federal Aviation Administration have issued alerts and directives to emphasise the need for flight crews to carry out a set of prescribed procedures contained within the Boeing 737 Max operating manuals. Cayman Airways said it had already incorporated the procedural and training elements necessary to comply with the prescribed Boeing and FAA instructions.
“I can give a full assurance that our new aircraft will not be delivered or accepted unless it is has thoroughly passed all required post production flight and ground tests successfully,” Fabian Whorms, President and CEO of Cayman Airways, stated.
“Cayman Airways operates within the strict parameters of a comprehensive and robust Safety Management System and our new Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft will enter passenger service only after both the aircraft and the airline are in full compliance with all safety related requirements. Once the new aircraft enters service, it will be operated and maintained to the highest standards, with our usual and unwavering commitment to safety.
“The recent accident in Indonesia should not be considered as a reference for comparison with present and future operations at Cayman Airways. Outside of the Lion Air incident, the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft model has accumulated hundreds of thousands of hours of safe operations with multiple operators. Today, there are well over 200 Boeing 737 Max aircraft in operation around the world with a large percentage being operated by major North American airlines that operate to and from Grand Cayman. Cayman Airways has had decades of safe operations with Boeing aircraft and we will always have safety as our absolute highest priority,” he added.
The Lion Air Flight 610, which was a relatively new Boeing 737 Max 8, plummeted into the Java Sea shortly after takeoff from the Indonesian capital in late October, killing all 189 people on board.
According to Boeing, their investigations have revealed a systems issue where, if the erroneous input is not addressed, crews may have “difficulty controlling the airplane and lead to excessive nose-down attitude, significant altitude loss and possible impact with terrain”.
CAL is expecting to take delivery of the first of the new planes next month, which successfully completed its first major flight tests on 7 November, the airline said. The aircraft is about to have the Cayman Airways livery applied as part of the final production process. Upon delivery, it will be the first Boeing 737 Max aircraft to be operated by any Caribbean-based airline, and Cayman Airways said it was “working with the greatest of diligence and care, as we replace our current jet fleet with the most refined Boeing 737 model”.
Meanwhile, the probe into what happened with the Lion Air plane is ongoing. Boeing has said it continues to cooperate fully and provide technical assistance at the request and under the direction of government authorities investigating the accident. Boeing has more than 4,500 orders for the planes, which feature larger engines, more aerodynamic wings and an upgraded cockpit, with larger glass displays. The single-aisle family is said to be Boeing’s biggest source of profit.
It is amazing that it takes a catastrophic crash to remind people that we were not born with wings….every single time you board any airline, you’re gently rolling the dice…you are sitting in a tube, hurtling at 500MPH a few miles high in the sky, surrounded by highly flammable gas, and subject to the ability, whims, moods and methods of hundreds of strangers both inside the cabin, in the cockpit, on the ground, in the air on other craft and so on….its an extraordinary voluntary relinquishing of self-control over our immediate fate that we give each time…and i love it, i’m a frequent flyer and don’t think twice about how crazy the whole thing is….this latest crash seems to be down, as usual, to a combination of fluke, multiple, simultaneous events with faulty indications, new methods for dealing with it, incomplete manufacturer instruction, relatively novice pilots in command, a particular airline, and a low altitude from which to begin with….the odds are it won’t happen again…..now, about the lovely new paint job on Air Turtle..
More than 4,700 orders have been placed worldwide for the Max 8. It is especially popular with low-cost carriers looking for dependable workhorses for shorter flights. It is not uncommon for these planes to fly multiple times each day, meaning that maintenance is crucial, especially in a place like Indonesia where wasps can invade external instruments that read airspeed and high humidity can degrade airplane parts.
In 2011, Lion Air signed a deal for around 200 Max 8 jets, part of the largest order ever made with Boeing. The plane that crashed last month was part of that deal, even though it was ultimately leased to the carrier through a Chinese company.
Although attention is now centered on whether Boeing may have left carriers around the world in the dark about an important modification to the Max 8, Indonesian investigators have also focused on Lion Air’s many safety lapses, which have led to at least 15 major incidents since the carrier began operations at the turn of the century.
But Lion Air’s instructors say they followed Boeing’s advice when it came to teaching pilots how to fly the Max 8, including the 31-year-old Indian pilot who was captaining Flight 610.
“For sure, we have not broken the manufacturer’s rules,” Mr. Dibyo said of Lion Air’s requirements for piloting the Max 8. “In fact, we have added higher requirements than the minimum.”
You do not know what you are talking about largest order. Ever heard of Ryan Air?
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/11/13/asia/boeing-lion-air-safety-intl/index.html
Lion Air is a Third World airline flying First World jets without the requisite technical backup. That’s just an accident waiting to happen. It’s an integral part of the history of air travel – get used to it. If you’re worried about this try walking.
any more fools want to comment about the unpainted Cayman Airways Jet! Typical ole ppl mentality, dont read just speak. IT CLEARLY SAYS … test flight before “BRANDING” so it is in the bare metal, then on to the paint shop. You people are disgusting! Always want to be right but not willing to know the facts to be right about! thats called IGNORANCE!
CNS: please also ask the other 6 plus airlines flying into GCM about the safety of the Boeing 737 max 8. Thanks!
Reading these comments makes me realize all of a sudden how many idiots we have on this island, and it is best to ignore most and do what must be done, Planes when made by Boeing the Tail rudder section the winglets along with some parts of the engine and nose covering are prepainted, the balance is assembled with stock primer coated panels, but no you all before researching that is running your mouths with foolishness, these max8 planes are flying already daily into Cayman by the Competition of our National Airline, and as for Airbus I’d prefer to take my bets with Boeing any day on safety.
Go ahead KX and follow your mandate to provide better cost saving and safer equipment and ignore this sideline bunch of braying donkeys.
Ever seen a Boeing jet ditch and remain afloat and in one piece?
Yes many have remained intact after a emergency landing. Research TACA flight 110. Highly skilled Honduran crew saved their lives and the passengers by landing a Boeing 737-300 on a levee in Louisiana following a dual engine flameout. What is even more amazing is that the Boeing engineers concluded that the best way to recover the aircraft was to repair it on the spot and fly it off the levee. That aircraft was in service until 2016.
A common theme among the aviation community is positive mind positive outcome in spite of current circumstances.
I said ditch. You know, in water.
I guess you don’t have Google. There are numerous instances.
Here you go:
2 April 1956, Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 2, Boeing 377
16 October 1956, Pan Am Flight 6, Boeing 377
13 January 1982, Air Florida Flight 90, Boeing 737-222
8 May 1978 National Airlines Flight 193, Boeing 727 Trijet
20 September 1989 USAir 5050, Boeing 737-401
12 September 1993, Air France 072, Boeing 747
4 November 1993, China Airlines Flight 605, Boeing 747-409
23 November 1996, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961, Boeing 767-260ER
3 February 2000, Trans Arabian Air Transport Flight 310, Boeing 707-351(C)
16 January 2002, Garuda Indonesia Flight 421, Boeing 737
13 April 2013, Lion Air Flight 904, Boeing 737-800
28 September 2018, Air Niugini Flight 73, Boeing 737-800
11.59am Glad to hear we have an expert donkey painting our CAL jets.
While I gave your post a thumbs-up, “idiots on this island” may need rephrasing. Remember posters could be located anywhere worldwide.
My Family wont be flying Cayman Airways anymore. Greed has gotten the best of them in many ways!
Do you what kind of Aircrafts you will you be flying on when you take other airlines?
I don’t know how greed got into this, when our airlines are getting the latest and more effective Aircrafts do you know how old our current fleets are? They are at their final days.
There are a lot to learn about Aircrafts airlines and the US govt.
When ever they want their Aircrafts to sell they make up all kinds of rules: Aircrafts are too old to fly in the states, they make too much noise their exhaust pollution is high and a whole long list.
Both Michaels, please do not encourage bad English on this forum, there’s enough already. The plural of aircraft is “aircraft”.
Unappreciated grammarian is usually singular, fortunately.
1:11 pm, this is not an english class, but just to get a point across, ok.
I could not care less about the livery. What is the major concern with this national “icon” is what it’s costing the taxpayer. Not only do we shell out $15 million and more each year in subsidies but thanks to CAL on a mileage basis we have some of the highest airfares for the short trip from Miami of any airline anywhere. Just one comparison of dozens, to fly from Miami to Barbados in early December a 31/2 hr plus flight costs $332 return on American the exact same fare as CAL charges to Miami. Thus the taxpayer is in addition to the subsidy, being forced to shell out effectively hundreds of dollars more in local airfares, adding up to millions annually. We can expect these figures to increase significantly over the next two years to cover the extra leasing costs and the loss on the promised “long haul” flights.
So much for national pride – we really need to swallow it, and spend all this money on improving our education system.
next time you buy a ticket take a look at the tax breakdown and how much KX is actually taking home.
1.50pm Irrelevant. Take a look at the Miami airport taxes and the deductions in Barbados, these apply to any Caribben flight out of Miami.
Are you saying it is okay to tax from the Miami end but not the Caribbean end?
I’m saying the taxes deducted from a flight from Miami to Barbados are the same as the taxes deducted from a flight from Cayman to Miami, so taxes are irrelevant when it comes to ticket pricing.
The amount of people who can’t read a simple caption under a picture and understand that the plane will actually not have color upon delivery is incredible. This “puke green” is what all planes look like during assembly and testing. The tail is painted for identification purposes really, they’ll paint it once testing is complete. Goes to say most of you probably didn’t even read half the article
Thy Word is a lamp unto feet and a light unto my path.
The Word will be removed and that makes me sad.
Good luck, Cayman Islands.
Soutwest was the first airline to fly there max 8 followed by american airlines into Cayman for weeks now thats mostly what they are using into Cayman
their!!!!!!! OMG man
The following airlines that fly to Grand Cayman have the 737 Max 8 in their fleets, Air Canada, Westjet, Southwest, American and United. All new aircraft have issues remember the 787 had problems with its lithium batteries when it first came into service.
@5:50 shows how little you know. The Gov’t subsidies the airline. I’m sure if it was privately owned with shareholders involved the shareholders would have a lot to say. In this case we the people are the shareholders!
If it was privately owned, it would go bankrupt in a very short period of time.
Lol. Paint job is horrible. Only the blind and dumb would disagree! Add some some shi1t-stained brown to the puke green for a truly remarkable crap job. Lol. Rebranding normally means making an improvement, not making it worse…
Idiot. It’s not painted yet.
I would love to hear what our pilots have to say.
From the time Chuckie changed the paint design on CAL aircraft it has got uglier and uglier.
This new paint scheme looks like a giant flying iguana, something we sre trying to remove from our Islands.
There is nothing in this painr design that immediately identifies with the Cayman Islands.
When you have s uniquely beautiful immediately recognisable Sir Turtle logo standing out at any busy airport – let it remain
CAL and Government please restore Sir Turtle to his prominent posirion on the aircraft’s tail.
8:52 am, typical complainer. Be damn if you do and be damn if you don’t.
1124? There is no complaint. We too would love Sir Turtle restored.
Let’s hear it for more people writing in here to restore SIR TURTLE. There is still the sir turtle club and people love turtles so please bring mista peg leg turtle back asap? CNS could you please get some sort of thing started on this? I thought of it but read it on here first.
The original Sir Turtle Logo should never have been adopted in the first place – wish it could be gone forever!
We did not originate from pirates AND please don’t continue to denigrate our national symbol, the Turtle, with a pirates costume…
The aircraft is NOT going to remain green. This is not the finished design.
Maybe your just being sarcastic or having some fun I don’t know but the airplane is not painted as yet do do.
That is primer. Not going to be like that. Good grief!
So much negativity on here – negative headlines, negative comments – new flash: all planes crash including the ones that CAL currently operate!
Feel better now?
Everyone has their opinion the negative responses are not necessary, Cayman Airways bought these Aircraft before the first one crashed out of the near 5000.
What are we to do cancel and forfeit the contract then been sued?
Any Aircraft can crash for different reasons including human error.
Do you realized where this Aircraft crashed? Where Aircrafts disappears and can’t be found.
Cayman Island my country, Cayman Airways my airline.
Our Captians, Mechanics and whole crew are competent and safer than many else where.
God bless my national Airline and our new Aircrafts.
Michael Stone Cold Stephens
Why did CAL order such an ugly paint job? Why not keep the planes that they have now?
Under the picture of the plane it states the picture is before branding!! That probably means it will be repainted? Can someone confirm?
The aircraft will NOT remain green. It has not been painted yet.
I think the green is a nod to our new national treasure, the green iguana.
What…. are we getting buy one get one FREE deal or summin …. aftr this same model just crashed and all the safety issues that BOEING itself has issued ….why wouldnt another plane be considered, this is the time to back out of the deal because if not you will have a lot of passengers backing out and going AA Jetblue…etc Jus saying
Hope your foot tastes good, the B738 Max is the fastest selling airplane in Boeing history with over 4700 orders in already worldwide. What did you think that we are the first to get it? #armchairwarrior
No, you are getting the various models of 737 confused.
it will go bankrupt as air jamaica did….
Just a thought………. How many airlines are subsidized by the government in other countries?
Jamaica is Jamaica Cayman is Cayman
Yeah, but rapidly becoming Jamaica.
Not as long as they fly to Jamaica
Scary.
Time to switch airlines. Does anyone know if American uses these planes? Now that Cayman Air has added baggage fees, they’re no different than any other airline.
Southwest does not charge for bags.
Yep, American Flight 2495 operates everyday between Miami and Grand Cayman with a B737 MAX…Southwest also uses theirs between Ft.Lauderdale and Cayman on occasion.
AA operates a 737-800 into Cayman out of Miami.
They currently have 15 737-Max8’s in the fleet with 85 these are not being deployed on a 1hr flight.
There are over 300 737-800’s in AA’s fleet.
In the case of Southwest they are flying the 737-700 between here and FLL.
JetBlue flys Airbus and none of the other carriers are using a Max on these routes as of right now.
Go on the AA site and under flight status type in “2495” …operates with B737-MAX 8 MIA/GCM.
Do your research before you post this foolishness. Southwest operates various B737-300, B737-300 and B737-Max-8 on this FLL/GCM route.
yep…in the civil service i trust……..zzzzzzzz
aa 4 life.
Yep it’s the civil service that is affording you the best life in the world right here in cayman. If you don’t believe me trying eating driving working or shopping without the civil service. BAM!
Oh I intend to buy a BMW X5 even thought 5000 have been in accidents.
What’s this? A cheapened and yet abbreviated version of our Coat of Arms painted on the tail and curved end of the wings?
That will define nothing and is very obscure. Looks like a few cans of paint spilled!
How about a plain Cayman flag on the end with Cayman Airways Ltd on the body of the jet like our original jets used to have.
The idea of a national airline is what it is about and promoting these islands. If we are going to have a la generic airline like this you can forget the advertising value that CAL would have hoped to garner on this deal.
Keep the old logo and ditch this please.
Looks like spilled green iguana guts all over this jet!!!!
Please calm down, the plane has not been painted yet, and the logo has not yet been finished. lol. wow just wow!
Kadafe you are one to talk.
So you know that the new planes will not look like this one in the photo? Lets see.
In case they are going to look like this I disagree with the color scheme.
I have every right to say that I wish the full name of Cayman Airways Ltd will be on the body of the jet because it will be good advertisement for the Cayman Islands?
Do you think Kadafe that a large part of the Cayman economy is not pegged to tourism? We should all speak up.
Kadafe is correct, the fuselage colour shown is in the Boeing factory anodized alloy finish , prior to painting . It is common for Boeing to have a small area of the customers logo/scheme on roll-out & air-worthiness trials & testing.
Donkey…I bet you had your voice raised while typing this, smh.
1 “Cayman Airways 737 Max 8 pictured during flight tests before branding”
2 “The aircraft is about to have the Cayman Airways livery applied as part of the final production process. ”
Actually read the article before commenting something next time
Mentioned not once but twice on this page
Thank you!
CAL should try to find a type of plane that has not crashed.
If you can name one I ask you to please do. Just like cars planes have incidents. Unfortunately a plane is much worse. You should really educate yourself.
I guessing you overlooked the sarcasm.
A220?
OMG really, What kind of car to you drive..Has it ever been in an accident?
This is the most foolish comment I ever heard. Tell me of one aircraft operating now that has not had any incidents.. So stupid!
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/boeing-737-max-8-safety-alert-lion-air-crash-investigation-today-2018-11-07/
And this is what they are saying on the news about this plane…can I hear “I think we will be changing airlines”
Southwest 4 me
You do realize Southwest has standardized on the 737 and also operates over a dozen 737 MAX aircraft don’t you?
Southwest operates the B737 MAX and was the first operator in the USA. They have 191 of this aircraft on order…Still want to fly Southwest??
Southwest has already started sending their 800 max occasionally. It’s the way forward. Unless you’d prefer to keep our old ones indefinitely?
Southwest was the first US carrier to operate the B737-Max…They have 191 more on order right now…By the way AA operates it on the Miami/Cayman route now as well.
Apart from the expected loss on the planned new long haul destinations, I would like to know what effect the cost of this new fleet (and the cost of disposal of the old one), will have on the annual Government subsidy. Like our new jets on take off, I expect it will rise rapidly.
Agreed. Also, what is the selling point or incentive now to travel KX? They’ve lost their unique identity that separated them from other airlines. AA 1 way from Miami is cheaper even with paying for baggage! Don’t get me started on the hero who thought Denver was a good hub.
Pax my dear Denver is silly. Could someone please tell me why Denver and not Atlanta or another Florida location like Sanford that has cheap landing fees?
Flying in a plane is safer than driving to the airport. Literally.
Do you know why they cost so much? Engineering at its best.
There’s a secondary system in place for practically every failure. If your pilot is worth their title, and all of CAL pilots are, your left engine could have a mechanical failure mid flight and you should still land safely.
With the driving skills on show here, I couldn’t agree more!
And Airbus was not even considered because….?
Think of the expense to change from 737 to an Airbus. Crew and maitntnence training, publications, operating systems. These are just a few.
These 737’s are nothing like the existing ones. The systems are new, they use composite parts etc.
Put some thought to it…KX mechanics are trained and familiar with Boeing aircrafts, most likely special tools needed are already here, contacts/relationship with Boeing are in place for decades…Pilots ans crew are familiar…yes it’s a newer version…I totally understand the loyalty to the brand from a cost and transition period…
Because Airbuses have also crashed!
Love new colour style of plane!
With all due respect Mr Worms is putting ego before safety and failing to listen to past and future pilots. Really not sure why the desperation to press ahead knowing what we know from experts in the field. You don’t see anyone else rushing to scoop these planes up now but instead more and more press and safety alerts from Boeing. Would that give reason to take a step back and wait? What’s the rush Mr Whorms?
If you honestly understood how the National airline works you would know any decision is not given to one person. Experts are involved, the shareholder and many experienced individuals. But keep sharing your world of knowledge from your arm chair. Love all the experts!
You lodged a very interesting point if you know what I mean.
Erase the last vestiges of truth from our culture and you will have your way.
I hope you are ready.
Good luck Mr. Whorms. You are one tough man…..
this is the fastest selling airplane in the history of aviation – 4800 orders. please don’t speak nonsense.