G2 Solutions News Review

…is available in our commentary section

Boeing and the IAM are back to the negotiating table to attempt averting a costly strike for all.

The Seattle Times does a great job, as usual, of capturing the sentiments of the Boeing workforce following the strike vote while Flight International is more to the point on the issue. Bloomberg’s Susanna Ray provides more insight into the cost of a potential strike, estimated at $120 million per days in lost revenues.

Union leaders and members are clearly stating that they know the time is right to gain as much as possible from management.  The workforce and unions know that their level of influence will continue to decline, and this is perhaps to be seen as an effort to reassert themselves in light of the ongoing Boeing’s subcontracting efforts.

This article from the Middle East Times suggest that the IAF might be able to use two Georgian bases for operations against Iran.  Two airbases (Shiraki or Marneuli) are possibly the ones behind this article here.

This article from the Washington Times is puzzling: “recent statements from the administration have made it clear that the president has suspended or is “freezing” arms sales to Taiwan for an undetermined period. While administration officials deny such a “freeze” exists, other reports have suggested the freeze may become permanent.”

Pierre Sparaco takes a critical look at United Airlines this morning.  As passengers, we think he is being too kind to this once great airline.  Of course, our criticism only applies to the main cabin and the poor decisions derived from the many focus groups UAL still can afford.

That Paris has always been a key defense supplier to Brasilia is well known.  However, this article from aviation week confirms that the partnership is growing: Brazil to Develop Nuclear-Powered Submarine, with French Help.

The strengthening Franco-Brazilian partnership might positively impact Rafale’s chances in the FX-2 competition.  There is little doubt in our mind that this might be Rafale’s to loose.

These are the well chosen words of Dominic Gates in the Seattle Times today.

Steve Trimble adds “A strike would bring the commercial aircraft production system to a halt. Boeing has estimated the stoppage would create a day-for-day delay for the 787 programme.”

Small gains, big losses…

Boeing’s machinists now have the offer they wanted from Boeing, a 11% salary increase, it looks like an offer unions can ill afford to reject.  Details from the Seattle Times.

Susanna Ray further elaborates for Bloomberg here.

The Boeing offer in detail here

Update 9:00pm :  it looks like Boeing’s offer failed to sway machinists, Dominic Gates reports that Local Machinists’ initial reaction to the final contract offer Boeing released Thursday was mostly loud and negative, with some quieter voices willing to accept the deal.

For those interested in having a look at some of the views presented by Boeing’s union they can be found here.

While we do not agree completely with some of elements presented in this article, we think the author is right on the spot with this comment: “One, reduce the size of the military. Accepting a quantity for quality trade off and reducing total troop numbers, even modestly, would go far to eliminating DoD’s plans-funding mismatch”

Suggested in the Dew Line,  makes little to no sense to us at this stage of the competition, perhaps for later variants.