Mon, Nov 21, 2011
OK... We admit it, we like Bill Boisture... one of the last
plain-speaking CEOs in the BizAv game since Jack Pelton was forced
to retire. And he was in rare form at NBAA2011.
Hawker Beechcraft president and CEO Bill Boisture had a fairly
pointed message for the Obama Administration during his remarks at
a news conference at the 2011 NBAA convention in Las Vegas.
He said policies that have a direct negative impact on what is
arguably the strongest export sector for U.S. manufacturing are
counterproductive. He added that the administration had been
informed of the impacts its policies are having on the domestic
aircraft manufacturing industry, and with the recently-announced
policies still unfavorable to aviation companies, "we must assume
it's intentional. We are approaching it with new resolve."
HBC is working towards building a company structure that
Boisture said is more agile and flexible. He discussed training
initiatives in place for HBC workers including college degree
programs, and outlined the company's growth in Chihuahua,
Mexico. As to product updates, Boisture said the Hawker AT6 light
attack aircraft program is progressing with testing using most
air-dropped NATO weapons.
Executive Vice President Shawn Vick told the media attending the
news conference that the Hawker 200 remains on track, and that the
company will petition the FAA to allow FAR Part 135 charter
operators of Hawker 800XP, 800XPR, 850XP and 900XP models to
conduct extended over-water operations such as San Francisco to
Hawaii, without requiring the agency’s Extended Twin-Engine
Operations Standards (ETOPS) approval. ETOPS is an internationally
recognized standard which permits twin-engine business jet aircraft
to fly routes that are up to 180 minutes flying time from the
nearest airport. Based upon a series of extensive testing, Hawker
Beechcraft believes the aircraft has the capability of traveling
the required distance within the allotted time.
ANN talked about these issues, and more, with HBC's EVP, Shawn
Vick, to get some additional insight into where the company goes
next and what it needs to do to survive in an environment that has
not been all that kind to the aviation world.
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