The IAM strike at Boeing continues, with the union and management failing to move after mediation, with contract talks resuming today and later this week. The strike is having a major impact on the supply chain, and UK suppliers Senior announced layoffs today as both Boeing and Airbus have cut output from projected levels.
With the strike yet to be a month old, the full impact on the beleaguered supply chain has yet to be fully felt in the marketplace. While Boeing expects to ramp up production within 10 days of the end of the strike, we are not as certain that suppliers could match that time frame, with potential shortfalls from heavily impacted suppliers quite possible.
Researchers want to throw and track some Boeing 777 parts in the Indian Ocean to track the possible location of MH370, a Boeing 777 that was lost but never found more than ten years ago. The idea is that the movement of the parts, if they match where parts from the aircraft were found, could provide clues to the aircraft’s location, as the parts thrown into the ocean would have sensors and positioning devices attached. While I am skeptical that an appropriate inference of position could be derived, there are still people searching for the missing airliner.
The Federal Aviation Administration has finally issued a safety alert after a rebuke by the NTSB and falling behind international counterparts as distant as India. Rather than an Airworthiness Directive, the FAA issued a Continued Airworthiness Notification to the International Community after the NTSB head accused the FAA for “downplaying the urgency” of the potential problems. 287 suspect components may be in use on aircraft, 16 of which operate in the US and the remainder internationally. Our take: another embarrassment for the FAA as international regulators again lead the way.
Boeing managed to deliver 33 aircraft during September, including 4 787 Dreamliners and 27 737 MAX models. Of the MAX models, 19 were newly built aircraft with 8 older aircraft delivered from the existing inventory. The 19 new built MAX aircraft reflect the initial impacts of the IAM strike. Boeing’s 737 MAX inventory is estimated by Wells Fargo at about 150 aircraft, and 787s about 55 aircraft today.
Boeing military and space workers in California have filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the company alleging retaliation after reporting potential workplace safety issues in their facility in El Segundo. The allegations include a number of safety violations ignored by management at Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing subsidiary. This is another problem for a company that does not need any additional problems.
Finally, the Green party in Scotland is trying to pass a tax on private aircraft departing Scotland, charging fees on a per passenger basis. An article cites former President Donald Trump, whose company owns golf courses and resorts in Scotland, would pay up to £250,000 per flight if his 757 is fully occupied as a gas guzzler aircraft.
Links to today’s key stories follow:
- Machinists’ union fails to reach deal after mediation, contract talks resume – Aerotime
- Aerospace supplier Senior falls as Boeing, Airbus cut output – Bloomberg
- Research think throwing Boeing 777 parts in the sea will track down MH370 – Jalopnik
- FAA issues safety alert on Boeing 737 rudder issue after NTSB rebuke – BNN Bloomberg
- Boeing delivers 33 jets in September as strike weights on output – Reuters
- Boeing workers file whistleblower suits alleging retaliation – LA Times
- Donald Trump’s private jet could face up to £250,000 tax for Scottish flights under new Green proposal – Aberdeen Live