Full Throttle into New Year

Time to learn more about the Transportation Transformation

Hiatus: an interruption in time or continuity.

That was the status of this newsletter for the past several months. It was a busy late summer and fall with a couple of big events. Full Throttle was put in the pause mode. I‘ve been heartened by several readers asking, “where’s my Full Throttle email?”

It’s back. Your first newsletter of the new year will be arriving later today.

I would ask you to use the share button. Send Full Throttle to a few of your friends who might be interested in how we will get from here to there using EVs, spaceflight, airlines and more. I thank those who have donated and I will be opening up the newsletter to your support.

(Photo: Boeing)

RAPID DEPRESSURIZATION

In the meantime, a short note about the 737 MAX 9 blowout of a “plug door” on an Alaska Airlines flight.

This was a newly delivered aircraft (October) meaning it’s unlikely the airline had made any significant changes or maintenance to the jet. The “plug door” is used when an airline uses a seating arrangement that reduces the number of passengers. If the passenger load has been reduced to certain levels, some emergency exits may not be required and can be “plugged.”

What might those few facts suggest? Could this be a manufacturing issue in the Boeing plant in Renton? The next question is whether this is a one off, a mistake made on one aircraft? If not, that could raise questions about the processes used by Boeing when it does plug an emergency door. The FAA and NTSB will have an answer for us at some point.

DK