Max 8s ‘as safe as you can get’, says Whorms

| 15/02/2021 | 38 Comments

(CNS): The president of Cayman Airways, Fabian Whorms, has issued a video message to persuade what may be reluctant customers that the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, which will be returning to service within the next week, are “as safe as you can get”. The two CAL planes, which were grounded for almost two years following two fatal crashes involving that model, have now been cleared by all aviation authorities to return to the skies. Therefore, CAL will be retiring its aging 737-300s and turning to the Max 8s for its current limited service.

“We are working to reintroduce our aircraft back into service and we are doing it with the same care, caution and diligence that we exercised on March 10, 2019,” he said, referring to CAL’s decision to be the first airline to voluntarily ground the plane in the wake of the second crash.

“We’re leaving nothing to chance. Airlines, typically, have been focused on pilot training. In that respect I can tell you we went over and above, from day one, before we even introduced the aircraft to service in the first instance,” Whorms said in the video. “What was unusual for Cayman Airways is that we trained all our pilots with the full simulator training, as if they had never flown this aircraft before. What typically happened in the industry is that pilots would receive differences training, by way of a computer-based application. Generally speaking, it was done on an iPad.”

CAL has already conducted a number of test flights and the planes will be taking Cabinet ministers and other dignitaries to Cayman Brac later this week before the plane are formally reintroduced to service.

CAL is currently operating few flights as a result of the limited border opening due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

But the Max 8s will take over all of CAL’s weekly services to Miami and Jamaica as well as the service to La Ceiba, as Whorms has stated that the two new aircraft will be more than enough to cover the current very limited flight schedule.

See Whorms’ message below:


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Comments (38)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Except for the deal with LACSA for leased BAC 1-11s upon its creation in 1968 and later being stuck with two very nice B727s after Jim Bodden lost a lot of money to Air Florida’s Tino Gonzales in a Nassau casino (nevermind that at the same time CAL had 2 new B737-300s on the line at Boeing in Everett because Singapore Airlines cancelled an order), CAL has always chosen aircraft based on its pilots’ desires (what they want to fly – like kids with the latest toy). Disregarding if it’s the right aircraft for their purpose, nevermind routes and other major deciding factors when choosing suitable aircraft.

    I would bet that “CAL’s” choice of the 737 Max was also solely “pilot-based”!!

  2. Anonymous says:

    As safe as you can get – for an aircraft that has an inherent pitch problem and relied on software to correct that, but now relies on the pilots to do so after the software couldn’t distinguish between real angle of attack problems and false sensor readings. To pass lightly over the fact that there seems to be a recurrent problem with said angle of attack sensors, or that in ploughing through the requalification process they also found other problems with the wiring harness that have also had to be corrected. And that senior Boeing engineers are saying there was a systemic breakdown in build quality at the factory, and the US Airforce is refusing to accept aircraft unless they had been personally signed off by US Airforce personnel rather than Boeing because they found problems post delivery, including tools left inside sealed spaces. but other than that, safe as house. Sure, Fabian. Fact you have bought these puppies and cannot cancel the lease doesn’t make them inherently safe.

  3. Anonymous says:

    Quite frankly that is nonsense. It’s an inherently unstable plane in certain flight conditions, hence why it needed all these new faulty systems to try and aid pilots- but ended up killing them and their passengers.
    Plus it’s redundancy and design in terms of hydraulic and electrical lines date back to the original 737 of the late 60’s.
    If there is a suitable uncontained disintegration of one of the engines then a flying fan blade could cut through all the hydraulic control lines in one go leaving the plane unflyable.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Should got the Max 7’s, the engines are mounted in the right place, longer range, burn less fuel, and are bigger than the the 737 300, but smaller than the max 8

  5. Anonymous says:

    Empty barrels make the most noise and empty -8’s won’t fly for long #anonymous

  6. Anonymous says:

    Aircraft with zero fatalities.

    “Boeing 717, CRJ700/900/1000, Airbus A380, Boeing 787, Boeing 747-8, Airbus A350, Bombardier C Series, A340 and the Airbus A320 NEO series.”

    https://www.tripsavvy.com/the-safest-aircraft-54428

    • Anonymous says:

      No! We want our 737! How dare you suggest Airbus or Bombardier!

    • Anonymous says:

      Hmmm….please note, Boeing 717 is essentially the same aircraft as the DC9/MD80. Please correct your assessment that none of these have ever crashed with fatalities!

      • Anonymous says:

        Actually it is not. Completely different power plant for starters. That is like saying the MAX is essentially the same as the classic 737. The only common denominator is the type certificate.

      • Anonymous says:

        The Boeing 717 is in no way the “same” aircraft as the previous Mcdonnell Douglas MD-80 family.

        • Anonymous says:

          Newer tech, yes, but essentially the same aircraft.

          For example – the last B747s off the line were very different from the first ones that flew in 1970 but still B747s. Of course when Boeing bought the MD80 type from McDonnell-Douglas they had to change the name.

          • Anonymous says:

            That like saying the 737max is essentially the same as the 737-100. They are the same shape but it ends there. Chemically milled waffle doublers instead of bonded doublers was a major structural change out of many others including power plants and systems, and even the number of spoiler surfaces.

      • Anonymous says:

        Sarcasm in 6:42’s Post…love it

  7. Anonymous says:

    Use Airbus instead and train the pilots on the use of those aircraft. Boeing deliberately put profits before safety and cannot be trusted!

  8. Anonymous says:

    Not me, haven’t left in a year, going to sit right here and wait.

  9. Anonymous says:

    No. The record still stands for the highest kill ratio for a passenger plane.

  10. Anonymous says:

    You can keep saying how safe it is.
    What we don’t want to see is a new crash happening.

  11. Anonymous says:

    The planes will be taking cabinet ministers and dignitaries to the Brac? Is that meant to be some kind of public reassurance, like vaccinating Alden, Dwayne and the Gov first, or is it just a jolly? And how much exactly will it cost?

    • Anonymous says:

      Lots

    • alaw says:

      2:07 A little History for you young People, in 1965 three
      Boeing 727-100 Passenger Jets, CRASHED on landing, in less than three Months, in the UNITED STATES.
      Became the MOST POPULAR PASSENGER PLANE in History, check!

      P.S. Was used here in GRAND CAYMAN BY {Lacsa Airlines}
      for many Years!

      • anon says:

        2.07 How many passengers were killed?.

      • Anonymous says:

        Correction – LACSA never used MD aircraft on their Cayman route. They used BAC1-11’s (and leased some to CAL). Southern, Delta & American Airlines used DC9/MD80s to/fro Cayman, essentially the same aircraft that is now the Boeing 717.

        40 years of civil aviation/airport management experience in Cayman and the UK taught me this.

      • Anonymous says:

        Yep, I flew them many times.
        I ate my first olive during in-flight meal thinking it was a grape.
        I will never forget that.
        Oh lovely days in Cayman.
        Can’t see myself ever returning unfortunately.

      • Anonymous says:

        I rather crash on landing than fall out of the sky

    • Say it like it is says:

      2.07pm The big question is will CAL waste more money with direct flights from Miami to the Brac on the Max aircraft?.

    • Anonymous says:

      Yes but doesn’t say it’s bringing them back!!!!

  12. Anonymous says:

    We could post a more convincing video called “our corrupt airline wasted tens of millions in lease payments for planes nobody wants to fly in” and see if it gets more than his 400 views.

  13. Anonymous says:

    Actually, Mr. Whorms, I believe there are some modern jet aircraft with engines mounted at the appropriate point beneath the wings and which do not have an apparent tendency to pitch up when at full power, at initial climb out. These aircraft do not require an MCAS system, and are not manufactured by a company that seems to have blamed dead pilots for defects in the aircrafts automated controls.

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