Warning Bells

Oct 18 2024 24 ep. 42 mins 26
Warning Bells Podcast artwork

In June of 2018, warning bells went off for Ed Pierson, a Senior Manager at Boeing's 737 Factory. The production environment he helped oversee was becoming increasingly chaotic, leading to worrisome lapses in quality and safety. Months later, when two Boeing 737 MAX aircraft crashed in separate incidents, killing over 300 people, Pierson took action as a whistleblower, determined to shed light on the potential role played by production defects. Today, as a leading safety advocate in aviation, Pierson continues to push Boeing and Federal authorities to fully investigate and fix the 737 MAX. Join him as he discusses the latest safety-related news; chats with a fascinating array of whistleblowers, safety experts, policymakers, and business leaders from around the globe; and explores how all of us can keep our communities safer by heeding our own warning bells.

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Episode 21: The Dismantling of the Quality Control Program - Part II

Oct 18 2024 56 mins  
Ok we admit it, no one will believe this story—but it is true. Why and how did Boeing remove thousands of quality control inspections on individual airplanes, before and after the two MAX crashes, without the FAA’s approval or knowledge and without the knowledge of Boeing’s airline customers? Join Ed and aerospace safety engineer Joe Jacobsen as they welcome Boeing IAM Union

Episode 21: The Dismantling of the Quality Control Program - Part I

Oct 18 2024 54 mins  
Ok we admit it, no one will believe this story—but it is true. Why and how did Boeing remove thousands of quality control inspections on individual airplanes, before and after the two MAX crashes, without the FAA’s approval or knowledge and without the knowledge of Boeing’s airline customers? Join Ed and aerospace safety engineer Joe Jacobsen as they welcome Boeing IAM Union

Episode 20: Sacred Parts?

Sep 19 2024 48 mins  
The supply chain problems at Boeing are not limited to getting parts from thousands of suppliers delivered on-time. The problem is also the quality of some of the parts, and because Boeing routinely violates its own manufacturing and quality processes. How and why is this happening? Join Ed and former Boeing parts expert Merle Meyers as they discuss the reckless behavior that is st

Episode 19: Quality Control Inside the Factory

Jul 03 2024 56 mins  
Join Ed as he welcomes Jessica Edwards Taggart, a former Boeing manufacturing and quality control employee, to the Warning Bells podcast. Jessica held several positions in manufacturing and quality over the course of her 20-year career. She provides firsthand insight into the job pressures and describes what it was like working inside a Boeing factory.

Episode 18: The State of Commercial Aviation

May 21 2024 46 mins  
Join Ed as he discusses the state of commercial aviation with legendary pilot Captain Sully Sullenberger and aerospace safety engineer Joe Jacobsen. The trio also delve into a wide range of topics from recent incidents involving uncommanded rolls of Boeing 737 MAX airplanes to the criticisms of the Indonesian and Ethiopian pilots of the two Boeing 737 MAX airplanes that crashed in

Episode 17: What Is the Culture of Your Workplace?

Mar 28 2024 44 mins  
Why are people fearful of bringing up bad news? Is it safe and worth it to speak up? Join Ed for a thoughtful discussion on workplace culture with author Stephen “Shed” Shedletzky. Shed is the author of SPEAK-UP CULTURE – When Leaders Truly Listen People Step Up.

Episode 16: Ed Pierson - First Person

Feb 12 2024 21 mins  
After the harrowing incident occurring on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, and the many developments that have followed since, Ed Pierson talks first person.

Episode 15: FAA Reauthorization Act

Oct 16 2023 53 mins  
Join Ed and his guests, Michael Stumo and Joe Jacobsen, as they discuss the status of the FAA Reauthorization Act and why Congress must incorporate nine recommendations from families of crash victims.

Episode 14: Boeing 737 MAX Congressional Hearings - An Insiders View

Aug 28 2023 76 mins  
Ed is joined by Doug Pasternak, former Director of Investigations and Oversight for the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Mr. Pasternak led the committee's 18 month long investigation into the Boeing 737 MAX airplanes after two crashes resulted in the deaths of 346 people.

Episode 13: Is This the New Normal?

Jul 23 2023 53 mins  
Ed welcomes former Boeing and FAA engineer Mike Dostert as they cover a wide range of topics including compliance issues and the systemic erosion of safety, regulatory oversight, and business culture, in a sector which may have lost its way.