Boeing HQ
Today’s key stories are new, yet similar to stories and themes we’ve seen over the last years. First, another new whistleblower has emerged with claims of supplier quality issues on the 787 . Richard Cuevas claims to have observed “substandard manufacturing and maintenance practices” on the forward pressure bulkhead that could impact as many as a dozen airplanes.
Second, Boeing’s IAM agreement is coming up, and negotiations will be tense. The union will demand that the 777X continue to be built in Everett and new benefits that would once again encourage longevity. The union head also has asked employees to put money from each paycheck away over the last two years, expecting a potential strike.
Third, Elon Musk is blasting Boeing’s leadership as inappropriate, citing Dave Calhoun’s lack of technical expertise and mocking their quality issues, as Musk’s own space program has a large lead over Boeing in both successful missions and on-time performance.
Finally, the FAA has issued a new safety directive for 13 Boeing 757-200s over cracking concerns, and FedEx is retiring 22 of that type.
Links to today’s key stories follow:
- Boeing’s 32,000-strong union negotiates to ‘save the company from itself’ – even if it takes a costly strike – Fortune
- Elon Musk blasts Boeing CEO as its troubled spacecraft trapped astronauts on space station – Futurism
- FAA issues new safety directive for 13 Boeing 757-200s over cracking concerns – Benzinga
- Opinion: How Boeing CEO’s catastrophic reign could become criminal – Yahoo
- FedEx Express retires 22 Boeing 757 freighters – Airways News
- Boeing faces new whistleblower claims of lapses on some 787 jets – BNN Bloomberg
