Pontifications: Boeing wins certification of KC-46A; B-52 MRO model may be key to profits

Sept. 10, 2018, © Leeham News: While Boeing Commercial Aircraft grapples with more than four dozen unfinished 737s clogging the space at Renton Airport and Boeing Field, Boeing Defense had some good news last week: The KC-46A received… Read More

Unfinished 737s have peaked, Boeing tells analysts

Sept. 6, 2018, © Leeham News: Boeing officials say the parked inventory of 737s has peaked at around 50 aircraft and should come down slowly as traveled work is performed. Officials made the comments yesterday at its annual… Read More

Boeing confident of 737 recovery by year-end; some analysts express doubt

Sept. 6, 2018, © Leeham News: As incomplete Boeing 737s fill the ramps, taxiways and other available space at Renton Airport and Boeing Field, company officials sought to assure aerospace analysts there is a recovery plan that will… Read More

Pontifications: Supply chain melt down to get worse, says manufacturer

Sept. 3, 2018, © Leeham News: There is more evidence the aerospace supply chain is in meltdown—and it’s going to get worse, a manufacturer tells LNC. The OEM requested anonymity to speak frankly. As aerospace analysts gather this… Read More

Suppliers chafe at Boeing’s demand for costly certifications

Subscription Required Introduction By Dan Catchpole  danieljcatchpole(at)gmail(dot)com September 3, 2018, © Leeham News: Boeing’s insistence that more and more subcontractors meet stringent aerospace manufacturing standards risks adding cost and reducing flexibility to the supply chain, several direct and… Read More

The Muddle of the Market aircraft (No, this isn’t a typo)

Subscription Required Introduction Aug. 30, 2018, © Leeham News: As time goes by, the Middle of the Market airplane appears to have become the Muddle of the Market. Boeing can’t seem to close the business case on its… Read More

Pontifications: Boeing aid to Jet Airways uncommon but not unusual

Aug. 27, 2018, © Leeham News: Boeing is giving financial help to India’s Jet Airways, according to a news report. This doesn’t come as a surprise. Jet Airways has 225 737 MAXes on order (50 direct, the rest… Read More

Pontifications: Workforce shortage hurts entire supply chain

Aug. 20, 2018, © Leeham News: A growing shortage of workers is exacerbating pressure on suppliers as they struggle to meet current aircraft production rates, even as Airbus and Boeing want to raise them even more. Add to… Read More

Can an Airbus A321XLR kill NMA’s business case?

By Bjorn Fehrm Subscription Required Introduction August 16, 2018, © Leeham News.: Airbus is working on improving the A321LR so it can fly more of the missions Boeing’s NMA is aimed for, according to Aviation Week. By it,… Read More

Some suppliers consider sitting out Boeing’s NMA program

By Dan Catchpole August 15, 2018, © Leeham News: If Boeing launches its New Midsize Airplane (NMA or 797), it is expected to use the cleansheet program to force new contract terms on suppliers. And that has some… Read More