Boeing Keeps MAX Upgrades On Short Leash

When Boeing executives talk about sticking to the basics in their 737 MAX reengining program, they are not kidding. Besides the improvements they expect from the new aircraft's CFM Leap-1B engines, Boeing is keeping a tight rein on the technology risks of the biggest upgrade to the 737 since the Next Generation series was launched nearly 20 years ago. To make the MAX work, Boeing needs to distinguish it from rival Airbus's A320NEO while raising the benchmark of what its customers can expect in performance and reliability ...