Aero-News: Quote of the Day

ANN's Quote of the Day usually derives from current news, though we reserve the right to pick quotes out of history that have a bearing on the day's events and issues.

Sometimes, you'll find them timely and in keeping with the content of the day's news... and sometimes, they'll just be thought-provoking.

Reader suggestions and comments are welcome... and if particularly intriguing, timely, or poignant, may themselves become future Quotes of the Day.

Let us hear from you, folks!

Aero-News Quote of the Day

"Because replacing its aging tanker fleet is a top priority for the Air Force, it paid special attention to each company's past record. After doing so, it reached this finding about Boeing's past program management, an important sub-factor in the crucial Past Performance category: "There was a notable difference between the two offerors. Northrop Grumman received a rating of 'Satisfactory Confidence,' while Boeing received a rating of 'Little Confidence.'"

Source: From a Northrop Grumman release, the latest in a series of "Why We Won" missives the company has posted ahead of this month's planned ruling by the Government Accountability Office on a protest of the KC-X contract awarding lodged by Boeing. In one of the most inflammatory statements to date to come from Northrop regarding the selection of the Northrop/EADS KC-45A over Boeing's KC-767A, the American defense contractor said the USAF pointedly gave Boeing a rating of "little confidence" in being able to meet its performance promises, based on its past experience.

FMI: www.northropgrumman.com