The decade from 2010 to 2019 saw some remarkably ambitious initiatives in all realms of aviation. While some, like the creation of the Gulfstream G650 ultra long-range jet, were spectacular successes, others, like the saga of the Solar Impulse global giants, were less so. Still, they reminded us that great accomplishments come only after overcoming great obstacles, which makes the successes all the sweeter.
2. Boeing 737 Max Fiasco
The crash of two Boeing 737 Max Airliners was not only the biggest story of the year but also one of the biggest stories of the decade. The crashes of Lion Air 610 in Indonesia, which killed 189, and that of Ethiopian Airlines 302 in Addis Ababa, that killed 157 people, caused a global uproar. The crashes, early on linked to a new stability enhancement system called MCAS, eventually grounded the 737 Max, costing Boeing and its airliner customers billions of dollars. It also ensnared the FAA, Boeing and foreign aviation authorities in controversies over how the certification, regulation and training for the plane were mishandled that remain to be settled.
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