EADS Has Good Quarter

November 14, 2008 by Dagpotter · Comment
Filed under: EADS, Earnings, France, Germany, Military Aviation, Restructuring, commercial aviation, logistics, production program 

EADS announced that in the third quarter it was able to make a profit compared to the large losses last year. The Wall Street Journal has the story. Despite ongoing issues with two of its key programs - the A400 military transport and the A380 airliner - the company made about $800 M. The company found that its restructuring cost less then expected and cost reductions in the construction of its commercial aircraft also helped. Read more

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EDS takeover leads to UK job losses

October 10, 2008 by Dagpotter · Comment
Filed under: England, IT, Restructuring, logistics 

The takeover of EDS by Hewlett Packard is having effects in the United Kingdom. EDS has several IT and computer support contracts with the British Government. These are primarily in the non-Defense sector. In a difference from standard American practice these workers are unionized. Now they have been told with the amalgamation of the companies that over 3,000 jobs will be eliminated. This is due to the decision by HP to streamline its new combined workforce (i.e. reduce). Unreported is the possibility that some of these jobs will move to Hewlett Packard.

See the story at Channel Register.

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Union and Boeing try to agree

August 31, 2008 by Dagpotter · Comment
Filed under: Boeing, Contract Awards, GAO, Military Aviation, Proposal, Protest, U.S. Air Force, logistics, production program 

Boeing is negotiating with the machinists union who make up the core of its workforce on both military and commercial aircraft. Today they sent their best and last offer. This includes the employees who will build the tanker for the US Air Force. So in the middle of trying to write and cost a proposal to the Air Force for a program that is seen as key to the company holding onto a market they are trying to prevent work stoppages. Strikes are the kind of thing that can kill a program’s schedule.

See Excite News for more.

Update: The union leaders have recommended rejection of the Boeing proposal and striking on 4 September. While this will have a large effect on civil aircraft production it won’t help Boeing get ready for the KC-45 if they win again.

See Bloomberg.com for a story on this mess.

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Scotland’s government snipes over CV delays

June 23, 2008 by Dagpotter · 1 Comment
Filed under: Contract Awards, VT Group, production program 

Worried about the effect on their workforce, Scottish MPs criticized the English government for not moving fast enough to award the new CV construction contract. For more see the BBC here. The two carriers will be built primarily in Scottish shipyards and will cost over 4 billion Pounds. Scotland is worried that with a possible change in the future constitutional relationship between the two countries may make the British government turn to English yards for the work. The Scottish defence industry is heavily dependent on English orders, not having had much luck securing foreign work. More to come on this, I am sure.

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