Background
Patrick Shanahan, the former acting Defense Secretary under Donald Trump, has a long history with Boeing, having spent 31 years working his way up through the company. His time at Boeing was marked by his ability to fix troubled programs and earn the nickname "Mr. Fix-It." However, Shanahan's tenure as Defense Secretary was marred by an ethics probe into allegations of favoritism towards Boeing. Now, Shanahan finds himself in the midst of another Boeing controversy, as the CEO of Spirit AeroSystems, a contractor for Boeing, which manufactured the faulty door panel that blew out during an Alaska Airlines flight.
The Quality Issues
Spirit AeroSystems, a spinoff of Boeing, had been facing quality problems that affected Boeing's production targets. Shanahan was brought in to address these issues and turn the company around. However, recent incidents, including the mid-air door blowout, have raised concerns about the quality of Spirit Aero's work. Accusations of poor fittings and misdrilled holes have further damaged the company's reputation.
Shanahan's Motivation
Shanahan took on the role at Spirit Aero because he felt a sense of obligation and wanted to help fix the company's problems. As someone with a deep understanding of Boeing, Shanahan was seen as the ideal person to renegotiate contracts for the troubled 737 MAX. However, there were also rumors that Shanahan had aspirations of becoming the CEO of Boeing itself.
The Alaska Air Debacle
The recent incident involving an Alaska Airlines jet has intensified the scrutiny on Boeing and Spirit Aero. Multiple probes are underway to determine whether a manufacturing flaw in the 737 MAX endangered passengers' lives. The Federal Aviation Administration has announced an audit of Boeing's production line, and Senator Maria Cantwell has demanded answers about the agency's safety processes. Spirit Aero has pledged to cooperate with the investigations.
Shanahan's Role
Shanahan has experience in handling crises, such as the grounding of the 787 Dreamliner due to battery fires. His engineering background and hands-on approach have been effective in turning around troubled projects. At the Pentagon, he successfully managed key programs and cut costs. However, his tenure as Defense Secretary was not without controversy, as he faced an ethics probe and criticism for not defending Trump's plan to divert Pentagon funds for a border wall.
Spirit Aero's Future
The Alaska Air incident has put Spirit Aero in the spotlight and raised concerns about its role in manufacturing the faulty door panels. Despite being a separate company from Boeing, Spirit Aero's association with the MAX program has made it a subject of scrutiny. Shanahan's ability to address the quality control issues and restore confidence in the company will be crucial for its future. There were previous discussions of Boeing acquiring Spirit Aero, but instead, Boeing provided financial support to help meet production needs.
Conclusion
As the CEO of Spirit AeroSystems, Patrick Shanahan finds himself at the center of yet another Boeing controversy. His experience and expertise will be tested as he works to address the quality issues and restore confidence in the company. The ongoing investigations into the Alaska Airlines incident will determine the extent of Spirit Aero's responsibility and the measures needed to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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By: Lee Hudson and Oriana Pawlyk
Title: Why Trump’s Pentagon Chief is Involved in Boeing’s Safety Issues
Sourced From: www.politico.com/news/2024/01/13/trump-pentagon-boeing-spirit-shanahan-00135415
Published Date: Sat, 13 Jan 2024 07:00:00 EST
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