Year-end musings

As 2015 draws to a close, recent events point to topics that may become increasingly important next year. In civilian airliner news, Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. has begun flight tests of its MRJ regional jet. The company has an ambitious plan for achieving flight certification, opening a U.S. engineering and flight test center in Washington State next spring. The 70- to 100-seat airliner has more than 220 firm orders so far but faces stiff competition from a growing number of rivals.

The Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China Ltd. (COMAC) recently unveiled its much-anticipated C919 regional jet. Orders for the C919 now number more than 500 from more than 20 customers. The COMAC roll-out generated great interest within China for the country’s first home-grown airliner, but components for this aircraft are being sourced worldwide.

Also crowding the same market are Embraer, developing a more fuel-efficient version of its E-Jet, the E2; and Bombardier, which has been thrown a $1 billion financial lifeline from the provincial government in Québec to keep its CSeries jetliners on track. The government’s 49.5% equity stake in a new partnership, 50.5% owned by Bombardier, is being created to ensure the CS100 and CS300 regional jets enter service on schedule.

If renewed threats of global terrorism darken prospects for the immediate future of commercial aviation, then defense may fill the gap. Northrop Grumman was awarded the contract for the U.S. Air Force’s Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B) program, designed to replace the aging B-52 and B-2 bomber force. The award, potentially worth $80 billion for a fleet of 100, is being contested by the non-winning team from Lockheed Martin and Boeing. No need to worry about those two giants, though. Boeing just ramped up its KC-46A tanker program with a test-article first flight and Lockheed Martin completed its $9 billion purchase of Sikorsky Aircraft from United Technologies Corp. Prospects appear good for Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky division. Just two days before the sale was approved, Sikorsky announced its $1.2 billion VH-92A presidential helicopter replacement program completed preliminary design review. Plus, Lockheed Martin just received an order worth up to $5.4 billion to supply 58 more F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters to U.S. and foreign customers, with 75% of the work done in the United States.

It doesn’t look as though aerospace is due for a dramatic downturn any time soon.
 

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#WhyMFG?

In partnership with AMT – the Association For Manufacturing Technology, the producer of IMTS 2016, we are sharing stories of what prompted you and your colleagues to enter the world of manufacturing. Every issue features a brief, personal profile that answers the hashtag question. Responses include details of that person’s career path into manufacturing, what that person loves about his or her career, and why others should consider joining the industry. Paired with the profile is a manufacturer’s viewpoint on the need for skilled workers and what that manufacturer is doing to attract talented individuals to a manufacturing career. The website, www.WhyMFG.us, carries expanded conversations about these topics and we welcome your input. Tell us why you love your work, what keeps you in manufacturing, and what we need to do to bring in new talent. We have Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram social media links (ending in /WhyMFG) to make it easy to share your photos and tell us your story.
 

– Eric