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.
Join host Ed, Joe, and Randy as they sit down with Juan Browne—airline captain, Air Force veteran, and the voice behind the Blancolirio aviation channel—for an unfiltered conversation about transparency in aviation investigations, healthy speculation, and why the aviation community deserves timely access to factual data.
In this episode of Warning Bells, Ed Pierson welcomes Petter Hörnfeldt—better known as the Mentour Pilot—to discuss aviation safety, pilot trust, and the critical role of transparency in an evolving industry. Alongside Joe Jacobsen and Randy Klatt of The Foundation for Aviation Safety, they unpack the realities behind the Boeing 737 MAX, examine the risks of safety complacency, and discuss how pilots rely on a wide array of support systems and other aviation professionals.
Every day, millions of passengers board planes, trusting that someone, somewhere, is keeping them safe. But behind the polished image of commercial aviation lies a hidden, bureaucratic process—managed quietly by the FAA and other aviation regulators—that is supposed to identify and communicate dangerous aircraft defects. When a problem is discovered, however, the FAA doesn’t sound an alarm alerting passengers to unsafe conditions—it sends out dense, technical service bulletins that can take seve...
The FAA continues to fail in their oversight of Boeing’s manufacturing operations. Boeing whistleblowers have been complaining for years about the illegal removal of thousands of quality control inspections on individual airplanes. By the time the FAA acted, it was too little, too late. 346 people died in two MAX crashes and hundreds of airplanes have already been delivered to unsuspecting airline customers around the world. So how did this happen? Join Ed, Joe, and safety expert Randy Klatt, as...
The National Transportation Safety Board’s mission is making transportation safer. One of the ways the NTSB carries out this mission is by conducting objective, thorough investigations. The mission of the Department of Justice is to uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and to protect civil rights. Join Ed and Joe as they discuss how officials at these agencies have completely failed to carry out their investigative responsibilities in the aftermath of the two Boeing 737 MAX airplane...
What happens if a new or old airplane is found to have a defect, especially a dangerous defect that risks the safety of the airplane? As a passenger, when you purchase an airline ticket you understandably expect the airplane to be free of any dangerous defects. Join Ed and his guest Mike Dostert as they expose and unravel the little known, slow moving, and dysfunctional process.
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 Business Representative Lloyd Catlin to the podcast. Listen to Ed & Joe unravel Mr. Catlin’s incredible story as he ex...
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 Business Representative Lloyd Catlin to the podcast. Listen to Ed & Joe unravel Mr. Catlin’s incredible story as he ex...
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 still occurring inside Boeing’s factories. These dangerous practices continue to place Boeing airplanes at risk. U.S. ...
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.
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 2018 & 2019.
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 .
After the harrowing incident occurring on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, and the many developments that have followed since, Ed Pierson talks first person.
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.
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.
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.
Ed welcomes Paul Njoroge, a Canadian financial advisor who tragically lost his family in the 2nd MAX crash. Paul and Ed discuss the failures of corporate leadership by Boeing’s Board of Directors that contributed to the MAX disasters.
Ed welcomes distinguished Captain Dennis Tajer, a 737 pilot with more than 30 years aviation experience including military service. Captain Tajer presently flies the 737 MAX airplane. Highly respected in the industry, Capt. Tajer is also the Communication Chair for the Allied Pilots Association representing over 15,000 American Airlines pilots.
Ed welcomes Michael Stumo, who lost his 24 year old daughter Samya on the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash. Michael shares the ongoing battle victim family members are waging to prevent another disaster and their response to an invitation by Congress to have specific input into the 2023 FAA Reauthorization Bill.
Ed and his guest Chris Moore, a Canadian engineer that lost his daughter Danielle on ET302, discuss the shocking reality that the aviation industry currently enjoys an industry exemption which allows individual engineers to operate without a national, independent, licensing authority. Given the recent and ongoing issues facing aviation today -- this strikes as beyond the pale.
A disturbing trend continues as repetitive inflight malfunctions mount for the Boeing 737 MAX. Former FAA Safety Engineer Joe Jacobson joins Ed to examine the latest incident reports and their related concerns.
Prior to the crashes of two brand new 737 MAX airplanes, Boeing began a process of eliminating thousands of inspections on EACH MAX plane. This podcast explores the radical changes being made to Boeing’s quality control program. Join Ed and his guest, Mike Molsee, an airplane quality control expert and former Boeing employee, handpicked to assess the changes to Boeing's quality control program, as they discuss the unbelievable changes Boeing has been making to its once vaunted quality management...
What if your loved one was killed? As difficult as it would be to grieve your loss – you would want to know - who was to blame? Why did this happen? And you would want to seek justice. An American right bestowed upon everyone. And staunchly guaranteed by the Department of Justice. But what it you learned that right could be stopped? Join the victims’ families as they share a tale which defies belief.
At times the Boeing MAX story seems like a book with missing chapters. A movie with no ending. What caused the crashes? Who was to blame? When was the trial? The primary reason these questions linger unanswered is due to a little known and hard to understand legal process. The DPA. This episode will delve into what it is and what it did. It will forever change anything you’ve ever believed about justice.
Join Ed and 30 year Boeing employee Chris Lee as they provide an enlightening and often troubling view of the 737 Factory during the building of the 737 MAX.
Ed is joined by the President of Flyers Rights and prominent rights advocate Paul Hudson to discuss the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request and subsequent lawsuit filed in an attempt to gain access to data on the recertification of the 737 Max planes.
Ed is joined by former FAA Safety Engineer Joe Jacobson as they delve into the latest MAX incident reports and system malfunctions.
Ed is joined by his attorney Chris McLamb of Constantine Cannon to respond to some of the many questions sent to him about the Whistleblowing experience. BREAKING NEWS: Ed delves into a disturbing revelation that Boeing has requested a second extension of the equipment exemption allowing them to avoid installing modern crew alerting systems on the Boeing 737-7 MAX and Boeing 737-10 MAX. The new system is designed to mitigate the pilot startle-effect and confusion during complex, compound system ...
Ed Pierson chronicles an introductory overview of the early events that led up to becoming the Boeing whistleblower. From the initial warning signs he observed in the factory prior to two fatal crashes of the 737-MAX airplane, his prior efforts to raise concerns to Boeing leadership, and the ongoing efforts to help ensure the safety of the general public.
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, Pi...
