In both Washington, D.C. and here in Washington State, Boeing’s supporters reacted with shock and even anger to the Pentagon’s announcement today that a consortium of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. and Northrop Grumman had beaten Boeing for a $40 billion Air Force tanker contract.
In Everett, where the 767 tanker would have been assembled, union members who had gathered at the Machinists Union Hall intending to celebrate the tanker contract award to Boeing, instead found themselves hastily arranging a protest rally.
"I would have to say the mood here is angry," said International Association of Machinists District Local 751 spokeswoman Connie Kelliher.
"I don’t think that anyone who has worked on this 767 tanker project can believe that the deal went to a plane manufactured overseas."
The Machinists represent among others workers who build 767s in Boeing’s huge Everett wide-body plant.
At the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, which represents Boeing engineers and technical employees, shock described the reaction.
"I am very disappointed for our members and all employees at The Boeing Co.," said Cynthia Cole, SPEEA’s president. "I’m surprised the Air Force chose an unproven technology and and inferior product for this important program that supports the men and women in our armed forces," she said.

Read more »

Boeing Co. shares were down $3.40 or 4.11 percent in afterhours trading on leaked news that Boeing has lost perhaps the biggest military contract of the decade, the deal for new Air Force tankers.

A combine of Europe-fased EADS and U.S.-based Northrop Grumann reportedly won the $40 billion contract for 179 aircraft.

EADS had offered a militarized version of its A330 commercial airliner made by its subsidiary, Airbus. Boeing had offered a version of its 767 airliner.

Ultimately, the value of the contract could exceed $100 billion as the Air Force replaces more of the 535 tankers

Read more »

When the explosion hits tomorrow morning, don’t be afraid.

If you live near the Port of Tacoma or in Northeast Tacoma, you may hear a loud noise at around 9 a.m. Saturday. If you do, rest assured that it’s the result of a "planned, small-scale demolition" of a structure at the closed Pioneer Chlor Alkali facility on Alexander Avenue.

That’s the word this afternoon from the Port – although the demolition will not be on Port-owned land, nor is the demolition part of a Port project.

In an attempt to turn around dipping sales at Victoria’s Secret, the famous lingerie chain will be toning down the sex, according to a Washington Post story on the company’s new direction.

CEO Sharen J. Turney said sexy has overpowered ultra-feminine at the stores, which sell everything from bras and underwear to perfume, makeup and bathing suits. The introspection comes as Victoria’s Secret, like many retailers, saw declining sales in the fourth quarter.

Now the chain will aim its marketing and merchandising at 26 year olds with focus groups and by walking malls with them, Turney said. The

Read more »

Here at the end of Washington Saves Week – and America Saves Week – here’s a tip aimed directly at high school students in Washington: Now’s your chance to win some money by writing an essay about saving money.

The Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants is sponsoring a Savings Week essay contest wherein students are invited to respond to the following: "Are you great with your money? Have you been able to set a financial goal and accomplish it? Maybe you are not so great with money but you are trying to become so and have learned some

Read more »

Boeing gained 59 new orders this past week through Tuesday bringing its 2008 commercial airplane orders to 189.

If this pace continues throughout the rest of 2008, Boeing will end the year with about 1,220 orders, far more than the 700-800 it predicts.

But airliner orders don’t happen in even increments, so extrapolating the orders from the intial results probably isn’t a valid predictor of year-end totals.

The company gained orders for 19 737s and six 777s from Continental Airlines and four 737s from the Mideast’s RAK airlines. Thiry orders for 737s last week came from unidentified

Read more »

Southwest Airlines today started a new fare war with $29 one-way fares from Sea-Tac to Spokane and return. With taxes, that amounts to $39.50 each way.

Alaska Airlines and its Horizon Air sister airline have yet to match those fares, though they’ve initiated a $49.50 each way fare including taxes.

The Southwest fares must be purchased 21 days in advance. They’re good through Aug. 22, and not all flights offer seats at that low price.

If gas is $3.15 a gallon and your car averages 20 miles per gallon on the highway, gas costs for the 584-mile

Read more »

The composite fuselage of Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner has passed a series of tests to determine whether the structure meets strength requirements for flight.

Boeing said its engineers stressed the fuselage barrel to its design limit and then increased the stress on the structure to 150 percent of the design load. The fuselage survived without damage.

The testing team then increased the load on the fuselage to well above test limits until engineers head audible cracks from the fuselage.

“Testers observed audible indications of damage as the test progressed but the piece did not reach the level

Read more »