Boeing's goings...

[Guest1]

Boeing pushes Starliner test flight to July

 Boeing pushes Starliner test flight to July
by Patrick Hilsman
Washington DC (UPI) Mar 30, 2023
Boeing said it was now targeting July 21 as the earliest window for its first manned Starliner flight to the International Space Station, delaying the liftoff by several months.

Boeing and NASA said Wednesday that additional time was needed to "close out verification and validation work prior to the systems first flight with crew on board" the CST-100 Starliner spacecraft for the flight which was originally scheduled for the test mission originally scheduled for April.

"We are very proud of the work the team has done," Mark Nappi, vice president and Starliner program manager, said. "We understand the significance of this mission for both us and NASA. We will launch when we are ready and that includes at a time when the International Space Station Can accept our vehicle."

The Starliner has been described as a "next-generation" spacecraft which is designed to carry up to seven passengers, or alternately a mix of crew and cargo, to low-Earth orbit. The capsule has a "weldless structure," and can be reused up to ten times.

Test pilots Barry Wilmore and Suni Williams were scheduled to fly on the mission. The mission would have marked the first time a woman would be a crew member on the first flight of a spacecraft.

According to Boeing, Wilmore, Williams, and backup pilot Mike Fincke "finished the second part of the Crew Equipment Interface Testing milestone."

"They maneuvered around the spacecraft getting hands-on experience with the tools and equipment they will use during the test flight," Boeing said.

"Wilmore, Williams and Fincke will also conduct several simulations focused on the spacecraft's backup manual flight mode for added redundancy in the event of an emergency. Fueling the spacecraft and loading updated software flight parameters ensuring alignment with the ISS will be conducted closer to launch," the company said.

Related Links
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com

[deicer]

Boeing continues with more issues on the 787.

https://simpleflying.com/faa-leaky-faucets-boeing-787s-safety-issue/

FAA Says Leaky Faucets On Boeing 787s Are A Safety Issue

Alleged leaks from faucets on Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets have caught the attention of officials at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The agency said on Friday that the faulty issue could pose a safety hazard to the aircraft while airborne.

Regulators have reportedly ordered inspections of the aircraft. The concern comes nearly a month after the FAA approved Boeing to resume its deliveries of the Dreamliner after being halted due to issues with the aircraft's fuselage.

Ordering inspections

According to the Associated Press, the faucet leaks could allow water to flow into the 787's electronics system. In response, the FAA has suggested ordering repetitive inspections of the widebody jet to check for any active leaks. If water is found seeping from the faucet, the part needs to be replaced.

In December, water was reportedly leaking from an aircraft's lavatories, under the cabin floor, and into areas that house electronic equipment. The FAA detailed its discovery in a statement, according to FlightGlobal.

“The findings include a loss of water pressure during flight and a potable water system leak, discovered after landing, that caused water to migrate into the forward electronic equipment bay and affect multiple pieces of electronic equipment.”

While mentioning that the water could damage electronic equipment, the FAA also said the issue could lead to a "loss of continued safe flight and landing." One airline reportedly found wet carpet in the aircraft's cockpit, prompting an inspection of its entire fleet of 787s. Following examination, the airline discovered several planes with leaking faucets. According to the Associated Press, the FAA did not identify the airline.

 

A slow leak

In November, Boeing informed airlines about the problem, describing it as a slow leak. The issue has reportedly been traced to an O-ring seal, which has been seeping around 8 ounces of water per hour. The manufacturer said the leak only involved certain 787s, but the FAA's proposed order would cover all aircraft.

With the inspection of all Dreamliners, the agency said the course of action would be short-term while Boeing works to redesign the faucet parts. According to the Associated Press, the redesign has been completed, but the planemaker is determining with its supplier and airlines when the new features can be installed on the planes.

Lavatory innovations

JAMCO, an aircraft components manufacturing company, supplies lavatories for Boeing widebody jets, including the 787.

"We are the sole supplier of lavatories for the wide body aircraft manufactured by The Boeing Company," the company said. "We have been also supplying lavatories for Boeing's newest aircraft, 787."

 

It is unclear whether JAMCO is involved in the redesign of the faucet parts on the aircraft. Still, the company boasts innovation in its products, including a touchless faucet and an onboard system, which could require additional water in the lavatories.

"Hands-free or one-touch water flow makes washing easier, especially for users with limited reach or mobility," the company explained. "In addition, JAMCO has achieved for the first time in the airline industry, introduction of a bidet system for airplanes and provides them for 777 and 787 models exclusively."

[conehead]

1 hour ago, deicer said:

 

"Hands-free or one-touch water flow makes washing easier, especially for users with limited reach or mobility," the company explained. "In addition, JAMCO has achieved for the first time in the airline industry, introduction of a bidet system for airplanes and provides them for 777 and 787 models exclusively."

Well... that should be interesting!

[deicer]

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/boeing-pauses-deliveries-some-737-maxs-amid-new-supplier-problem-2023-04-13/

Boeing halts deliveries of some 737 MAXs amid new supplier problem

WASHINGTON, April 13 (Reuters) - Boeing (BA.N) has halted deliveries of some 737 MAXs as it grapples with a new supplier quality problem by Spirit AeroSystems (SPR.N) that could stretch back to 2019, the U.S. planemaker disclosed on Thursday.

The issue will likely affect a "significant" number of undelivered 737 MAX airplanes both in production and in storage, and could result in lowered 737 MAX deliveries in the near term, the company said.

Boeing shares fell 5.3% and shares of Spirit AeroSystems fell 11.8% in after hours trade following the announcement.

The problem, which affects a portion of the 737 MAX family of airplanes, including the MAX 7, MAX 8 and MAX 8200 airplanes as well as the P-8 Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft based on the 737 NG, is not a safety of flight issue and in-service planes can continue to operate, Boeing said.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it had "validated" Boeing's assessment that there was no immediate safety issue "based on the facts and data Boeing presented" and the agency will evaluate all affected aircraft before delivery.

The problem involves the installation of two fittings that join the aft fuselage made by Spirit to the vertical tail, which were not attached correctly to the structure of the fuselage before it was sent to Boeing. Certain versions of the aircraft, like the MAX 9, use fittings from different suppliers and were correctly installed.

Boeing was officially notified about the problem by Spirit on Wednesday, however the problem is believed to date back to 2019 and the company is still determining how many aircraft could be impacted, Boeing said.

Boeing declined to comment on whether the problem will force it to roll back plans to boost 737 production this year as it races to deliver at least 400 MAXs in 2023. The company, which announced deliveries of 111 MAXs over the first quarter, had aimed to increase monthly MAX production rates from 31 to 38 by June.

"We have notified the FAA of the issue and are working to conduct inspections and replace the non-conforming fittings where necessary," Boeing said. "We regret the impact that this issue will have on affected customers and are in contact with them concerning their delivery schedule."

United Airlines (UAL.O) said late Thursday after discussions with Boeing that "at this time we do not expect any significant impact on our capacity plans for this summer or the rest of the year."

Spirit said it is working to develop an inspection and repair for the affected fuselages. Officials said the FAA is likely to issue an airworthiness directive that would mandate an inspection and repair regime.

The FAA has closely scrutinized Boeing aircraft since two fatal plane crashes in 2018 and 2019. The FAA continues to inspect each 737 MAX and 787 aircraft before an airworthiness certificate is issued and cleared for delivery. Typically the FAA delegates airplane ticketing authority to the manufacturer.

 

[Malcolm]

Demand has increased so:

Boeing to Double Production of 787 Dreamliner Aircraft

 

Boeing 787 Dreamliner© nycshooter/iStock Unreleased

Once thought to be an anachronism, the era of large-size jets is coming back.

Boeing Co., one of the two major airplane manufacturers in the world along with Airbus, is planning to increase its production of its 787 Dreamliners.

The company announced it would increase production to 10 Dreamliners per month at its South Carolina facility.

In fact, according to a regulatory filing, it could manufacture as many as 14 of the aircraft per month in South Carolina. The company submitted a request with the state to increase the size of its facility with a new environmental permit.

There are little to no changes with the new permit and the company is expected to receive approval from the state.

There has been an increased demand for the larger, long-haul planes as travel interest has grown greater. Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun told analysts the manufacture of the Dreamliners has shown “improved stability.”

Not only is that good news for the company but for the industry as well. Currently, Boeing is manufacturing five Dreamliners per month at its South Carolina facility so it could double its output and even triple production.

Boeing predicted that, combined, all airlines will need more than 7,000 long-haul planes over the next two decades. Boeing has a backlog of more than 700 orders for the planes.

Emirates recently announced a massive order with Boeing. 

[st27]

What once was a thriving Boeing operation in a small Ontario town is shutting down…victim of lower cost operations in Mexico….tough times and a blow to the local economy…

Quote

• Boeing Vertol Helicopters, Arnprior Division, from 1954 to 2005 was a repair and overhaul facility for Boeing Helicopters used by the Canadian Forces and commercial operators. It was a Department of National Defence facility originally purchased by Vertol Helicopters prior to merging with Boeing. The site is now home to Arnprior Aerospace, formed from divesting from Boeing in 2005.

 

Quote

In 2005, the American aerospace giant divested itself of its eastern Ontario plant as part of a new strategy to focus on integrating parts it would now purchase from independent subcontractors, according to Tyler Chamberlin, associate professor at the University of Ottawa's Telfer School of Management.

In the years that followed, Chamberlin said aerospace plants in regions with lower labour costs have won contracts with Boeing, meaning the odds were stacked against the Arnprior facility.

"I think that they're dealing with global forces that were just too much for them to overcome, so it's not surprising," he said.

Arnprior Aerospace has itself been operating a 7,000 square metre plant in Chihuahua, Mexico, since 2010.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/arnprior-aerospace-plant-set-to-close-after-nearly-70-years-in-operation#:~:text=Arnprior Aerospace was founded in,until its divestiture in 2005.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/aerospace-plant-in-eastern-ontario-to-shut-down-after-60-years-1.7064951

[deicer]

It appears there are more quality control problems with the 737 Max. Inspections now required on all rudder linkages.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/28/boeing-urges-inspections-of-737-max-planes-for-possible-loose-bolt.html

Boeing urges inspections of 737 Max planes for ‘possible loose bolt’

KEY POINTS

• Boeing is urging airlines to inspect 737 Max planes to look for a “possible loose bolt” in the rudder control system.
• It’s the latest quality issue to affect the company’s best-selling jetliner.
• The inspections will take about two hours per plane, and all new 737 Maxes will undergo the check before they’re handed over to customers.

[Malcolm]

Boeing 757 loses nose wheel while preparing for takeoff in Atlanta

The nose wheel of a Boeing 757 passenger jet operated by Delta Air Lines popped off and rolled away as the plane was lining up for takeoff over the weekend from Atlanta's international airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

•  Sign up for breaking news alerts from CTV News, right at your fingertips

Boeing was not immediately available to comment outside regular business hours. The nose gear mishap on Saturday came amid heightened scrutiny of the aircraft manufacturer by federal regulators following the mid-air blowout of a fuselage panel that left a gaping hold in an eight-week-old Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet flown by Alaska Airlines.

Nobody was seriously injured in the blowout, but the FAA grounded 171 MAX 9s after the Jan. 5 incident. The agency has since recommended that airlines operating Boeing 737-900ER jets inspect door plugs on those jets to ensure they are properly secured after some carriers reported loose hardware during inspections of grounded MAX 9 planes.

RELATED STORIES

• At United and Alaska airlines, frustration with Boeing's manufacturing problems is boiling over
• Federal officials recommend that airlines inspect door plugs on some older Boeing jets as well
• Crew forced to make emergency landing after Boeing plane's engine malfunction

According to a preliminary FAA notice filed on Monday documenting the 757 nose gear detachment, none of the 184 passengers or six crew members aboard was hurt in the incident, which took place at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

The report said the aircraft was lining up and waiting for takeoff when the "nose wheel came off and rolled down the hill."

The plane had been scheduled for a flight to Bogota, Colombia, when the mishap occurred, and a Delta spokesperson said the passengers were put on a replacement flight, according to the New York Times, which broke the story late on Tuesday.

The newspaper said Boeing declined comment and directed questions to the airline. The FAA told the newspaper it was continuing its investigation of the incident.

[Malcolm]

Plane Crash near Fort Smith

The latest on the deadly plane crash near Fort Smith, N.W.T.

FORT SMITH, N.W.T. — A passenger plane crashed early Tuesday near the town of Fort Smith, N.W.T., close the Alberta boundary. The coroner's office has confirmed there are fatalities.

Global mining giant Rio Tinto has said a number of its staff were on the plane headed to the Diavik Diamond Mine, 300 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife. 

 

Here are the latest developments. (All times are MT): 

8:45 a.m. 

The Northwest Territories coroner's office is expected to provide an update today into the deadly plane crash near Fort Smith, N.W.T.

It has said there were fatalities, but there's no word on how many.

The plane took off Tuesday from the airport in Fort Smith, near the Alberta boundary, when it lost contact and crashed near the banks of the Slave River.

Mining company Rio Tinto says a number of its staff were on the plane, which was headed to its Diavik Diamond Mine.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 24, 2024. 

The Canadian Press

[bm330]

Is there a connection between a BAe Gulfstream and this Boeing thread?

[Malcolm]

 

Exclusive-Boeing withdraws bid for safety exemption for Boeing 737 MAX 7

Story by Reuters • 1h

FILE PHOTO: Boeing logo is seen at the company's technology and engineering center in Sao Jose dos Campos, Sao Paulo state, Brazil October 10, 2023. REUTERS/Gabriel Araujo/File Photo© Thomson Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Boeing confirmed late on Monday it is withdrawing a request it made to the Federal Aviation Administration last year seeking an exemption from a safety standard for its 737 MAX 7 that is awaiting certification.

Senator Tammy Duckworth, who chairs an aviation subcommittee, said last week she opposed Boeing's exemption request that would "prematurely allow the 737 MAX 7 to enter commercial service."

 

She noted the exemption Boeing had sought "involves an anti-ice system that can overheat and cause the engine nacelle to break apart and fall off. This could generate fuselage-penetrating debris, which could endanger passengers in window seats behind the wing."

Boeing said late on Monday "while we are confident that the proposed time-limited exemption for that system follows established FAA processes to ensure safe operation, we will instead incorporate an engineering solution that will be completed during the certification process."

The FAA deferred comment to Boeing.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Sandra Maler)

[Seeker]

12 hours ago, Malcolm said:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Boeing confirmed late on Monday it is withdrawing a request it made to the Federal Aviation Administration last year seeking an exemption from a safety standard for its 737 MAX 7 that is awaiting certification.

 

 

we will instead incorporate an engineering solution that will be completed during the certification process."

 

I don't know which scares me more;  Boeing seeking the safety exemption or Boeing engineering a solution!

[J.O.]

6 hours ago, Seeker said:

I don't know which scares me more;  Boeing seeking the safety exemption or Boeing engineering a solution!

c) All of the above.

[Malcolm]

 

Boeing is sued by shareholders following MAX 9 blowout

Story by By Jonathan Stempel • 12m

By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Boeing has been sued by shareholders who said the company prioritized profit over safety and misled them about its commitment to making safe aircraft, prior to the Jan. 5 mid-air cabin panel blowout on an Alaskan Airlines 737 MAX 9.

 

FILE PHOTO: Boeing's new 737 MAX-9 is pictured under construction at their production facility in Renton, Washington, U.S., February 13, 2017. Picture taken February 13, 2017. REUTERS/Jason Redmond/File Photo© Thomson Reuters

According to a proposed class action filed on Tuesday, Boeing spent more than four years after the Oct. 2018 and March 2019 crashes of two other MAX planes, which killed 346 people, assuring investors that it was "laser-focused" on safety and would not sacrifice safety for profit.

Shareholders said Boeing's statements were false and misleading because they concealed the "poor quality control" on its assembly line, and caused its stock price to be inflated.

Boeing's share price fell 18.9% from Jan. 5 to Jan. 25, 2024, the day after the Federal Aviation Commission barred Boeing from expanding MAX production because of safety concerns. The decline wiped out more than $28 billion of market value.

A Boeing spokesman declined to comment on Wednesday.

The lawsuit filed in the Alexandria, Virginia, federal court covers shareholders from Oct. 23, 2019 to Jan. 24, 2024, and is led by Rhode Island General Treasurer James Diossa.

FILE PHOTO: Boeing's new 737 MAX-9 is pictured under construction at their production facility in Renton, Washington, U.S., February 13, 2017. Picture taken February 13, 2017. REUTERS/Jason Redmond/File Photo© Thomson Reuters

Other defendants include Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun and his predecessor Dennis Muilenburg, and Chief Financial Officer Brian West and his predecessor Gregory Smith.

"This case has the potential to effect changes in Boeing's practices to protect passengers and ensure their safety in the future," Diossa said in a statement.

 

The Jan. 5 blowout caused the FAA to temporarily ground 171 MAX 9 planes, resulting in thousands of flight cancellations at Alaska Air Group and United Airlines.

No one died on the Alaska flight, but some passengers have sued Boeing and the carrier.

On Wednesday, Boeing said it couldn't provide full-year financial targets because of uncertainty over its planes.

It also reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter results, which included a $30 million loss, $22 billion of revenue and $3.38 billion of cash flow.

The case is State of Rhode Island Office of the General Treasurer v Boeing Co et al, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, No. 24-00151.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Nick Zieminski and David Ljunggren)

[deicer]

[Seeker]

[Malcolm]

Exclusive-New quality glitch to delay some Boeing 737 MAX deliveries

Story by Reuters • 24m

 

FILE PHOTO: The production line for the Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft is pictured at Boeing's 737 factory in Renton, Washington, U.S. November 18, 2021. REUTERS/Jason Redmond/File Photo© Thomson Reuters

By Tim Hepher and Valerie Insinna

(Reuters) -Boeing Co said on Sunday it will have to do more work on about 50 undelivered 737 MAX airplanes, potentially delaying near-term deliveries, after its supplier Spirit AeroSystems discovered two mis-drilled holes on some fuselages.

Boeing confirmed the findings in response to a Reuters query after industry sources said a spacing problem had been discovered in holes drilled on a window frame, but the jetmaker said safety was unaffected and existing 737s could keep flying.

 

"This past Thursday, a supplier notified us of a non-conformance in some 737 fuselages. I want to thank an employee at the supplier who flagged to his manager that two holes may not have been drilled exactly to our requirements," Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stan Deal said in a letter to staff.

"While this potential condition is not an immediate flight safety issue and all 737s can continue operating safely, we currently believe we will have to perform rework on about 50 undelivered airplanes," Deal said.

The checks focus on potentially incorrect positioning of two holes on a window frame assembly supplied by Spirit, a condition known as "short edge margin," the sources said.

As of Friday, the "non-conformance" or quality defect had been found in 22 fuselages - nearly half of the 47 inspected up that point in production systems spread between Boeing and Spirit - and may exist in some 737s in service, they added.

 

The figures Deal supplied to employees on Sunday suggest that the inspections proceeded rapidly and that the problem affects a minority of the hundreds of fuselages in the pipeline.

"As part of our 360-degree quality management program, a member of our team identified an issue that does not conform to engineering standards," a Spirit AeroSystems spokesperson said.

The findings came to light in a routine notification known as a Notice of Escapement, in which suppliers notify Boeing of any known or suspected quality slip, the sources said.

Such quality reports are common in aerospace but the discovery comes as Boeing and its best-selling jet face intense scrutiny after the mid-air blowout of a door plug on an Alaska Airlines jet on Jan 5.

(Reporting by Tim Hepher and Valerie Insinna; Editing by Tom Hogue and Gerry Doyle)

[Malcolm]

Boeing workers are willing to strike to get a 40% pay rise, union leader says

Story by gglover@insider.com (George Glover) • 1h

 

An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-900ER. Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images© CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images

• Boeing workers could strike if they don't get a 40% pay rise over the next three to four years.
• "We don't take going on strike lightly. But we're willing to do it," union leader Jon Holden told Bloomberg.
• Boeing is already reeling from a structural blowout grounding an Alaska Airlines 737 Max last month.

Union leaders say Boeing workers are willing to strike if they're not offered huge pay rises.

Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that union bosses want the embattled plane manufacturer to increase salaries by 40% over the next three to four years — and could down tools in a bid to push the deal through.

"Our goal is to negotiate a contract that we as a union leadership and our members can accept," Jon Holden, president of an International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) branch in Seattle, told the outlet.

"We don't take going on strike lightly, but we're willing to do it."

The move comes as Boeing reels from a blowout on an Alaska Airlines 737 Max plane last month.

A door plug covering a deactivated emergency exit came off mid-flight on January 5, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing. Boeing responded by suspending its annual financial guidance and pledging to improve its quality-control processes.

"Our full focus is on taking comprehensive actions to strengthen quality at Boeing, including listening to input from our 737 employees that do this work every day," CEO Dave Calhoun said in a press release on January 31.

The incident has sparked rare public criticism of Boeing from airline bosses including Scott Kirby of United, its biggest customer.

"The Max 9 grounding is probably the straw that broke the camel's back for us," he told CNBC. "We're gonna build an alternative plan that just doesn't have the Max 10 in it."

Boeing's last deal with the IAM, which it brokered back in 2014, limited pay raises to less than 1% on average and ended non-union workers' pension plans. Talks for the new contract are set to start on March 8.

"The anger that was experienced by our membership throughout that process in 2013 and 2014 is certainly palpable today," Holden told Bloomberg. "I hear it any time I'm in the factory, and from all across the spectrum."

Detroit-based autoworkers and Hollywood actors and writers went on strike last year to negotiate better wages and conditions.

Boeing didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, made outside normal working hours.

[Seeker]

• Boeing's last deal with the IAM, which it brokered back in 2014, limited pay raises to less than 1% on average and ended non-union workers' pension plans. Talks for the new contract are set to start on March 8.
   

"The anger that was experienced by our membership throughout that process in 2013 and 2014 is certainly palpable today," Holden told Bloomberg. "I hear it any time I'm in the factory, and from all across the spectrum."

 

Meanwhile the execs gave themselves big fat bonuses for saving so much money.

[deicer]

Commercial aircraft, spacecraft, military aircraft, Boeing has 'issues' right across the board.  They deserve the beatings.

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2024/02/05/boeing-pushes-back-t-7-plans-due-to-faulty-parts/

Boeing pushes back T-7 plans due to faulty parts

Boeing said Friday that quality problems with parts slated for the T-7A Red Hawk training jet mean it will delay by several months delivering the next test aircraft to the Air Force.

 

[deicer]

Latest:  The bolts holding the door weren't even there.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/06/business/ntsb-boeing-alaska-door-plug-blowout-faa/index.html

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday said evidence shows four bolts that hold the door plug in place on the Boeing 737 Max 9 were missing at the time of last month’s blowout on Alaska Airlines flight 1282.

 

More in depth information in the highlighted section here:

https://avherald.com/h?article=51354f78&opt=0

[Maverick]

I told myself I wouldn’t but here I am!

[Kip Powick]

Yeh, back in '88 with Aloha Airlines...all survived except one FA who went out when the lid blew off....

A miracle that they flew back and landed safely

Side note...we in WD, could fly to all the islands free on Aloha  and seating was based on the time you checked in for any seats available  for a particular  flight, not seniority etc. 

[boestar]

On 2/6/2024 at 10:36 AM, Malcolm said:

Boeing workers are willing to strike to get a 40% pay rise, union leader says

Story by gglover@insider.com (George Glover) • 1h

 

An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-900ER. Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images© CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images

• Boeing workers could strike if they don't get a 40% pay rise over the next three to four years.
• "We don't take going on strike lightly. But we're willing to do it," union leader Jon Holden told Bloomberg.
• Boeing is already reeling from a structural blowout grounding an Alaska Airlines 737 Max last month.

Union leaders say Boeing workers are willing to strike if they're not offered huge pay rises.

Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that union bosses want the embattled plane manufacturer to increase salaries by 40% over the next three to four years — and could down tools in a bid to push the deal through.

"Our goal is to negotiate a contract that we as a union leadership and our members can accept," Jon Holden, president of an International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) branch in Seattle, told the outlet.

"We don't take going on strike lightly, but we're willing to do it."

The move comes as Boeing reels from a blowout on an Alaska Airlines 737 Max plane last month.

A door plug covering a deactivated emergency exit came off mid-flight on January 5, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing. Boeing responded by suspending its annual financial guidance and pledging to improve its quality-control processes.

"Our full focus is on taking comprehensive actions to strengthen quality at Boeing, including listening to input from our 737 employees that do this work every day," CEO Dave Calhoun said in a press release on January 31.

The incident has sparked rare public criticism of Boeing from airline bosses including Scott Kirby of United, its biggest customer.

"The Max 9 grounding is probably the straw that broke the camel's back for us," he told CNBC. "We're gonna build an alternative plan that just doesn't have the Max 10 in it."

Boeing's last deal with the IAM, which it brokered back in 2014, limited pay raises to less than 1% on average and ended non-union workers' pension plans. Talks for the new contract are set to start on March 8.

"The anger that was experienced by our membership throughout that process in 2013 and 2014 is certainly palpable today," Holden told Bloomberg. "I hear it any time I'm in the factory, and from all across the spectrum."

Detroit-based autoworkers and Hollywood actors and writers went on strike last year to negotiate better wages and conditions.

Boeing didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, made outside normal working hours.

maybe if they get their Quality issues in Check and start turning out a safe product they would have a fighting chance.  the way things are going they may have to work for Airbus.

[Malcolm]

Boeing removes head of 737 Max program in wake of safety incidents

Chris Isidore and Pete Muntean

 

CNN

Digital

Contact

Updated Feb. 21, 2024 12:24 p.m. MST

l

Boeing removed executive Ed Clark, the head of its 737 Max passenger jet program, after a dramatic – and terrifying – midair blowout in January underscored ongoing problems with the jet.

The 737 Max is Boeing’s best selling plane, but has been a source of repeated problems over the last five years, starting with a 20-month grounding in 2019 and 2020 following two crashes that killed a total of 346 people. More recently, a door plug on a Boeing 737 Max flown by Alaska Airlines blew out soon after taking off, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the plane.

A preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board found that the four bolts that should have held the door plug in place were missing when the plane left Boeing’s factory.

The NTSB report did not assess blame for the missing bolts and the accident but in a statement to investors before the findings were released, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun assumed responsibility for the incident.

“We caused the problem, and we understand that,” he told investors during a call after reporting the latest quarterly loss at the company. “Whatever conclusions are reached, Boeing is accountable for what happened.”

With the news of Clark’s departure, Boeing also announced a shuffling of a number of executives in its Boeing Commercial Airplanes unit. It created a new executive position, Senior Vice President for BCA Quality, and named Elizabeth Lund to that position.

Lund had been senior vice president and general manager of airplane programs for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, overseeing not just the 737 Max but other models of passenger jets made by the company.

Mike Fleming, who had been a senior vice president of development programs & customer support, will assume Lund’s previous job. And Katie Ringgold, who had been Vice President, 737 Delivery Operations, will take Clark’s former job overseeing the Max program.

This is a developing story. It will be updated.