Pontifications: Dissecting Boeing’s 2016 delivery guidance

Feb. 8, 2016, © Leeham Co.: Boeing’s surprise guidance for 2016 for fewer deliveries on the 737 and 767 lines raised as many questions as officials answered on the Jan. 27 earnings call. The lower guidance led to… Read More

Pontifications: A sea change at Boeing

Jan. 18, 2016, © Leeham Co. The surprise announcement last week of a tentative contract agreement between Boeing and its engineers union, SPEEA, was the best news coming out of the company that I’ve heard in years.

Boeing 737 rate hike factors

Boeing 737 factory in Renton (WA). Boeing rendering. Subscription Required Introduction Nov. 30, 2015, © Leeham Co.: As Boeing ponders whether to increase production rates of the 737 line beyond the previously announced 52/mo rate effective in 2018,… Read More

KC-46A refueling boom, drogue testing

Oct. 13. 2015: The US Air Force and Boeing released photos of the KC-46A aerial refueling tanker with the boom and the drogue deployed. Photos by John D. Parker. Click on images to enlarge.

Boeing KC-46A first flight

Sept. 30, 2015: Boeing Friday launched the first flight of the USAF KC-46A aerial refueling tanker. The event was seven months late and all the program margin has been eaten up by the delays, but this was a… Read More

Pontifications: Dueling refueling tankers

Sept. 21, 2015, © Leeham Co.: This Friday, Sept. 25, is the date that at long last, Boeing and the US Air Force expect the first flight of the KC-46A that is equipped with the fueling system. A… Read More

Airbus ‘confident’ engine makers can ramp up production

Subscription Required Introduction Sept. 17, 2015, © Leeham Co., Mobile (AL): Tom Enders, the chairman and CEO of Airbus Group, is “confident” engine makers can accommodate single-aisle airplane production ramp-ups being considered by Airbus and Boeing. CFM makes… Read More

Air Force shouldn’t proceed with production rate decision, GAO said

 A chemical mislabeled and fueled into the first KC-46A means a delay of one month of its first flight, the USAF said yesterday. Aug. 18, 2015, (c) Leeham Co. The US Air Force should not proceed with a… Read More

Fancher takes on KC-46A; FAA investigating Allegiant Air

July 30, 2015: Scott Fancher, regarded as the person to come in and take over troubled programs at Boeing, has been named to take over the KC-46A program. Fancher originally came to Boeing Commercial Airplanes from the Boeing… Read More

Pontifications: Steady as she goes at Boeing–for now

July 27, 2015, © Leeham Co. Dennis Muilenburg, who became the chief executive officer at The Boeing Co. the Tuesday after the Paris Air Show ended (and at which Jim McNerney was front-and-center in his role as CEO), was… Read More