Boeing announced the retirement of Scott Carson, president and CEO of its commercial aircraft division. Jim Albaugh, head of Boeing’s Integrated Defense Systems, will assume the role.
Carson sent a memo to employees today announcing his decision. The test is below:
An incredible journey
Today I am announcing my retirement from Boeing, effective at the end of the year. For me this is the end of a journey that began nearly 41 years ago when I joined Boeing for the first time. It has been an incredible journey. I have seen many changes but the constant throughout has been the amazing people of Boeing who believe so deeply in what we do, and are so proud of the products and services we provide our customers.
My decision is tied to many factors, but perhaps the most important reason for me was resetting the schedule on the 787. With this baseline in place the new leader will have a clear path forward. Tomorrow Jim Albaugh will assume the reins here at Commercial Airplanes. I have worked with Jim over the past 12 years and know him to be a strong and focused leader. Between now and the end of the year, I will help Jim as needed in the transition and assist on special projects for the company.
It has been my honor and privilege to work with each and every one of you over the past three years in my present capacity, and before that in the Sales organization. Throughout my career I have treasured the rewarding experience of working with and serving our customers around the world. It has been one of the great highlights of my years with Boeing, and one that I will always remember.
Despite the current challenges facing our global economy and the industry, I remain confident in the future. I also know that you will give Jim the same outstanding support and world-class effort that you have demonstrated to me over the past three years. I wish you every success and thank you from the bottom of my heart for the journey we have taken together.
Sincerely,
Scott Carson
The first Citation X to be fitted with elliptical winglets has been delivered. The winglets were designed by Wichita-based Winglet Technology in collaboration with Cessna.
The patented shape increases lift and reduces drag on the aircraft, which decreases fuel consumption and increases the plane’s speed and range, Cessna said.
Plans are underway to offer the winglet to be installed on Citation Xs at Cessna’s nine service centers in the U.S. and Europe. Cessna Parts Distribution will provide spares support for the installed winglet.
WICHITA — If you’re coming out to the Wichita Flight Festival at Jabara Airport on Saturday, be sure to stop by to see the airplanes on static display. For the first time, my dad’s plane — a 1956 Piper Tri-Pacer — will be out there on display.
It’s the plane I’m learning to fly in. It’s a great little airplane — one of many cool ones that will be out tomorrow.
Come on out and be sure to stop by and say Hi!!
Keep an eye on the sky.
If you looked up this morning, you may have seen a skywriter promoting this weekend’s Flight Festival. I went out on the Wichita Eagle’s third floor deck this morning to see a skywriter starting the “W” as he wrote “Air Show” in large white letters. The show runs Saturday and Sunday at Jabara Airport.
You may want to keep an eye to the air today.
Boeing released its revised schedule 787 schedule today. The Dreamliner’s first flight is now expected by the end of the year. And first delivery is expected in the fourth quarter of 2010.
That’s good news for Spirit AeroSystems, which makes the 787’s forward fuselage.
Spirit will receive a full schedule from Boeing in early September, according to Spirit spokesman Ken Evans. “That’s when we really know for sure what the impact is going to be for us — but obviously, it’s good news.”
WICHITA: Rick Schmidt, Spirit AeroSystems executive vice president and chief financial officer, notified the company today of his decision to retire. His last day is October 2.
Philip Anderson, Spirit’s treasurer and vice president of investor relations, will take on the additional role of interim chief financial officer while the company performs a search for Schmidt’s replacement.
The company filed a notification of the change with the Securities and Exchange Commission today.
Anderson, 45, has served in his current capacity since November 2006. He is responsible for the company’s capital structure, cash management, insurance, pension investments, credit office and financial communications. Before joining Spirit, he was director of corporate finance and banking at Boeing.
Hawker Beechcraft Services recently completed a large expansion at the Indianapolis International Airport.
The new executive terminal and 40,000 square-foot hangar is three times the company’s previous space. The company has added technical jobs and plans to hire about 50 people over the next 18 months, it said.
Boeing will apply for a building permit to add a 787 Dreamliner facility in South Carolina, according to Bloomberg.
The move is a procedural one as the company considers its first commercial assembly line outside of Washington state.
“This does not mean we’ve decided to locate the second line there,” said Boeing spokesman Russ Young. “It’s strictly a procedural step.”
Boeing is considering Everett, Wash., Charleston, South Carolina and other locations for a 787 assembly line.
WICHITA: AirTran Airways has filed applications with the government to begin service to Nassau, Bahamas; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and the island of Aruba, the airline said today.
If approved, service would begin later this year.
AirTran serves Wichita with three daily flights to Atlanta, where flights to the three vacation spots would originate, the airline said.
The carrier filed applications with the U.S. Department of Transportation for the service.
WICHITA – U.S. aerospace and defense companies are expected to cut about 30,000 jobs this year — or about 4.5 percent of the work force, Reuter’s said, referring to a study by Aviation Week and some industry associations.
Layoffs are to continue in 2010, the study said. But total job losses during the downturn my be limited to 10 percent of the aerospace and defense work force, it said. That’s far below the 40 percent that were eliminated in the 1990 – 1996 time period at the end of the Cold War.
If that’s the case, Wichita’s cuts will make up a big number of those job losses. Cessna Aircraft, Hawker Beechcraft, Bombardier Learjet and Boeing Wichita have announced about 13,000 job cuts since November. That doesn’t count the scores of suppliers and subcontractors who supply the aviation industry and have trimmed jobs in the downturn.
Aviation Week produced the report with input from the Aerospace Industries Association, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the National Defense Industrial Association and Hitachi Consulting.
The report showed that despite the cuts, companies were still hiring. There were 21,000 job openings as of April 1, when the data was completed, down from 32,000 a year ago.
