American Icon: Saving Ford and Alan Mulally

We just finished the new book, American Icon: Alan Mulally and the Fight to Save Ford Motor Company. It is well worth reading. There’s very little about Mulally and his time at Boeing, though there are lots of… Read More

Odds and Ends: CFM progress on LEAP-1B; advancing 737 MAX EIS, Bombardier and more

CFM on LEAP-1B: Aviation Week has this snippet about progress being made on the LEAP-1B. Contained within is a small reference to Boeing advancing EIS of the 737 MAX, which Boeing said was its desire from the get-go…. Read More

UBS estimates MAX break-even at 200

UBS Securities issued this note today: Boeing is accounting for its 737 NG (Next Generation) program over a large number of aircraft with roughly 2,200 remaining in its block as of Q1, reflecting production into 2016 at planned… Read More

737 MAX vs A320 neo: The debate continues

Here’s the next round in the continuing debate. Bernstein Research published this chart detailing how Airbus and Boeing differ on the performance improvements they predict. There is, of course, no way to know who is correct until the… Read More

787 surge line delayed by rework; 787-9 to use this line in 2013; 787-10 launch all but certain

Boeing is delaying activating the 787 surge line in Everett (WA), while rework on the first 65 787s continues. Steve Trimble of Flight Global has this report. Meanwhile, Bernstein Research, in a note issued today, says the surge… Read More

Odds and Ends: 787 fuel savings at ANA; Airbus will benefit from Boeing

ANA 787s: Market Watch quotes an ANA official saying the Boeing 787-8 is saving 21% in fuel over eh previous airplanes. The article didn’t ID the previous planes, but they were the Boeing 767-300ER. Note, too, that the… Read More

Odds and Ends: Price vs Price in Indian contest; China theat; 787 financial impact on Boeing

Price vs Price: More on the price war between Airbus and Boeing in the A320 v 737 contest. Dominic Gates of The Seattle Times has this analysis of hot contest to win an order from India’s Jet Airways,… Read More

Air India accepts 787, Boeing produces first “clean” version

Good news for Boeing on two fronts: Air India and Boeing agreed to a compensation deal, reported to be valued at $1bn, that paves the way to deliver the first 787s to the embattled airline. The first airplane… Read More

Odds and Ends: A320 v 737 debate continues; Embraer on its future planes; ATR’s life story

A320 v 737 Debate: This continues over at AeroTurboPower, where an analysis of fuel burn cost per seat has been undertaken. Embraer reiterates futures plans: No plane in the 130-160 market segment. EMB will continue to concentrate on… Read More

Boeing’s space plane returns after nearly a year

This isn’t our usual gig, but we’re fascinated by this story. Kudos to Boeing on this one.