Other Airbus stuff
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From: N54 58 34 W02 01 21
Other Airbus stuff
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/...,00.html?f=dta
The chief executive of Airbus is stepping down with immediate effect, parent company EADS has confirmed.
Christian Streiff will be succeeded by Louis Gallois, EADS' co-chief executive.
Christian Streiff will be succeeded by Louis Gallois, EADS' co-chief executive.
Per Ardua ad Astraeus
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From: UK
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,693
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From: fairly close to the colonial capitol
According to reports divined from multiple sources, Airbus is currently facing a technology-induced but management created challenge in getting the A380 back on track for delivery. The delays have injured brand confidence and will take a big bite out of profits in the coming years.
Meanwhile, we have the A350 programme which was not ambitious enough in it's original design goals that must be re-born.
If management allows the Airbus engineers to work together properly, the technological challenges will be conquered with relative ease.
The economic challenge - minimising the impact of the A380 and A350 issues on EADS future profits and success is not an easy one to resolve - due in no small part to politics and the individual countries involved. A company outsider was surely needed to examine the situation and propose the very likely unpopular changes in order to rescue Airbus from its own (mis-) management.
M. Streiff must have understood the economic hardships and the unavoidable political wrangling ahead for his charge before signing up. His 100 day proposal seems to bear this out. Perhaps Streiff's bailout can be considered the first step towards Airbus' recovery.
A tentative plan has been put forth. Now it is up to the Franco-German majority powers of EADS to work out the details and then stand together as a united group.
Management's failures involve both the economic losses suffered by EADS and it's partners and taxpayer-investors as well as those to be endured by the industrial employees - and then there is the undeserved tarnish on an otherwise brilliant company's reputation.......
They must redeem themselves with a perhaps uncharacteristic disregard for personal or political cost.
Meanwhile, we have the A350 programme which was not ambitious enough in it's original design goals that must be re-born.
If management allows the Airbus engineers to work together properly, the technological challenges will be conquered with relative ease.
The economic challenge - minimising the impact of the A380 and A350 issues on EADS future profits and success is not an easy one to resolve - due in no small part to politics and the individual countries involved. A company outsider was surely needed to examine the situation and propose the very likely unpopular changes in order to rescue Airbus from its own (mis-) management.
M. Streiff must have understood the economic hardships and the unavoidable political wrangling ahead for his charge before signing up. His 100 day proposal seems to bear this out. Perhaps Streiff's bailout can be considered the first step towards Airbus' recovery.
A tentative plan has been put forth. Now it is up to the Franco-German majority powers of EADS to work out the details and then stand together as a united group.
Management's failures involve both the economic losses suffered by EADS and it's partners and taxpayer-investors as well as those to be endured by the industrial employees - and then there is the undeserved tarnish on an otherwise brilliant company's reputation.......
They must redeem themselves with a perhaps uncharacteristic disregard for personal or political cost.
Last edited by vapilot2004; 10th October 2006 at 08:55. Reason: clarity
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Perth - Western Australia
When the pilot jumps out the door .. isn't it time for the pax to start getting really worried?? ..
http://news.google.com/news?q=Airbus...=news&ct=title
http://news.google.com/news?q=Airbus...=news&ct=title

Joined: Oct 2002
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
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From: London UK
Fiddling while Rome burns department
Now looking at the issues, it seems there are technical problems (it can't just be some wrong-length wiring to cause such a delay) which needs technical people to be applied to the issue and get it sorted. A fairly standard R&D snafu.
But the various Chief Executives seem to be living in a parallel universe. Instead of encouraging the tech staff considerably in this endeavour, the main aim of which is to recover the revenue stream from aircraft deliveries, they are going round just spouting about job cuts and getting tied up as a result in political jockeying from various locations.
Job cuts are what you do when you have people with not enough work to do. In the present situation there is plenty of work to do and the team need to get stuck in, not be made to feel uncertain about their futures.
But the various Chief Executives seem to be living in a parallel universe. Instead of encouraging the tech staff considerably in this endeavour, the main aim of which is to recover the revenue stream from aircraft deliveries, they are going round just spouting about job cuts and getting tied up as a result in political jockeying from various locations.
Job cuts are what you do when you have people with not enough work to do. In the present situation there is plenty of work to do and the team need to get stuck in, not be made to feel uncertain about their futures.
Union Goon
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: New Jersey, USA
WHBM,
Airbus has a problem though if they can't manufacture the aircraft for a price that the market will bear, and the only way to reduce the price in a large manufacturing operation is to reduce the head count...
So They can get the work done, and have an aircraft that costs about a billion dollars a copy... Wonder how many they will sell?
There may be a lot of that going on here as well...
Cheers
Wino
Airbus has a problem though if they can't manufacture the aircraft for a price that the market will bear, and the only way to reduce the price in a large manufacturing operation is to reduce the head count...
So They can get the work done, and have an aircraft that costs about a billion dollars a copy... Wonder how many they will sell?
There may be a lot of that going on here as well...
Cheers
Wino
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
From: New Zealand
More Trouble Looming For Airbus?
Can Airbus Get Anything Done On Time?
http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?C...-c23899e4ddd9&
Thu, 12 Oct '06
Company Hints At Delays For A350XWB And A400M
Can it possibly get worse at Airbus? Parent company EADS has seen its share of troubles of late. Now leadership is hinting at even more problems.
Delays with the A380 program at Airbus have caused shakeups with company leadership. Stock selling scandals, a flagship program delayed for two years and two new CEOs within a few months are all contributing to the company hemorrhaging money -- nearly $6 billion.
Stiff competition with Boeing and a weak dollar are adding to the company's woes.
Airbus accepted a two-year delay in the A350 program when it announced the XWB variant at Farnborough this year. The XWB is the company's answer to Boeing's 787 Dreamliner. Now, EADS is says even more delays are likely with that program -- and with its A400M military transport program as well.
The A400M is an airlift aircraft Airbus hopes to pit against Lockheed's C-130 Hercules. NPR reports that program is facing cost increases.
EADS co-Chairmen Manfred Bischoff and Arnoud Lagardere say the company is uncertain of Airbus' ability to launch the A350XWB right now. In a joint interview with Les Echos, they said they intend to make a decision in the next few weeks.
Bischoff said, "All of the shareholders are totally behind this program. But before we launch it, we must assure ourselves that we can do it, both technically and financially. That is what we are in the process of examining. We will make a decision in the coming weeks."
According to Lagardere, the A350 program is necessary because of Boeing's 787, but, "we must first bring together all of the technical and financial conditions for its success."
Earlier this week, ANN reported Airbus' loss of its CEO Christian Streiff amid disagreements with EADS over Streiff's proposed restructuring plan. Streiff stepped down after less than 3 months as Airbus' CEO when it seemed EADS would bow to political pressure from countries sure to lose jobs under his plan.
FMI: www.eads.com
http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?C...-c23899e4ddd9&
Thu, 12 Oct '06
Company Hints At Delays For A350XWB And A400M
Can it possibly get worse at Airbus? Parent company EADS has seen its share of troubles of late. Now leadership is hinting at even more problems.
Delays with the A380 program at Airbus have caused shakeups with company leadership. Stock selling scandals, a flagship program delayed for two years and two new CEOs within a few months are all contributing to the company hemorrhaging money -- nearly $6 billion.
Stiff competition with Boeing and a weak dollar are adding to the company's woes.
Airbus accepted a two-year delay in the A350 program when it announced the XWB variant at Farnborough this year. The XWB is the company's answer to Boeing's 787 Dreamliner. Now, EADS is says even more delays are likely with that program -- and with its A400M military transport program as well.
The A400M is an airlift aircraft Airbus hopes to pit against Lockheed's C-130 Hercules. NPR reports that program is facing cost increases.
EADS co-Chairmen Manfred Bischoff and Arnoud Lagardere say the company is uncertain of Airbus' ability to launch the A350XWB right now. In a joint interview with Les Echos, they said they intend to make a decision in the next few weeks.
Bischoff said, "All of the shareholders are totally behind this program. But before we launch it, we must assure ourselves that we can do it, both technically and financially. That is what we are in the process of examining. We will make a decision in the coming weeks."
According to Lagardere, the A350 program is necessary because of Boeing's 787, but, "we must first bring together all of the technical and financial conditions for its success."
Earlier this week, ANN reported Airbus' loss of its CEO Christian Streiff amid disagreements with EADS over Streiff's proposed restructuring plan. Streiff stepped down after less than 3 months as Airbus' CEO when it seemed EADS would bow to political pressure from countries sure to lose jobs under his plan.
FMI: www.eads.com

Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,348
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From: liverpool uk
Oh yes indeed, but the French have now go what they wanted, control of Airbus. They will do everything legal and questionable to keep this industrial disaster area afloat, as a sign of gallic pride.
If they subsidse the company, it will have Boeing complaining of illegal subsidies to prop up the company, possibly in contravention of WTO regulations.
The question is, do we want in the future only one monoply supplier of large aircraft, therefore demanding any price they care to name.
The compnay demands a regieme of restructuring, to sort out the problems of overmanning, inefficient management which has a structure like no other company, and too many production lines in diverse locations and even countries.
Airbus have less than half the orders to breakeven on previous cost projections for the A380, what if some airlines walk away and take Airbus to court for breach of contract or just downsize their order. Airlines with small numbers ordered may not be able to take a smaller number and find it a cost effective option.
The A400M is going to be even later, will countries meerly go and replace their Herks as an easier and assured option??
If they subsidse the company, it will have Boeing complaining of illegal subsidies to prop up the company, possibly in contravention of WTO regulations.
The question is, do we want in the future only one monoply supplier of large aircraft, therefore demanding any price they care to name.
The compnay demands a regieme of restructuring, to sort out the problems of overmanning, inefficient management which has a structure like no other company, and too many production lines in diverse locations and even countries.
Airbus have less than half the orders to breakeven on previous cost projections for the A380, what if some airlines walk away and take Airbus to court for breach of contract or just downsize their order. Airlines with small numbers ordered may not be able to take a smaller number and find it a cost effective option.
The A400M is going to be even later, will countries meerly go and replace their Herks as an easier and assured option??
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 40
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From: Up North where its cold like!
Hi Guys,
Just to add to the story, I have a friend who works in the avionics industry as a designer
. He told me, last weekend, that there are now DAILY meetings regarding the serious financial troubles with Airbus which are going to have a knock-on effect throughout the industry. Doesn't sound very good.
It certainly looks like BA Systems may have jumped from a sinking ship in the nick of time.
He also added that there are huge offset costs now involved due to delays in the programmes - amounting to millions.
Shame though - I quite fancied myself as a future A380 pilot...
I do hope that they manage to pull through.
TSR...
Just to add to the story, I have a friend who works in the avionics industry as a designer
. He told me, last weekend, that there are now DAILY meetings regarding the serious financial troubles with Airbus which are going to have a knock-on effect throughout the industry. Doesn't sound very good. It certainly looks like BA Systems may have jumped from a sinking ship in the nick of time.
He also added that there are huge offset costs now involved due to delays in the programmes - amounting to millions.
Shame though - I quite fancied myself as a future A380 pilot...
I do hope that they manage to pull through.
TSR...
Last edited by TSR22; 12th October 2006 at 18:33. Reason: added more unsubstantiated gossip!
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,630
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From: 39N 77W
How many major new aircraft had enough orders to break even even before entry into service. I suspect the answer is none.
I have zero doubt that Airbus will survive. It's a matter of national pride and a strong desire to offer competition to Boeing.
Things may look bad now, but there will be a miracle recovery ... WTO or no. "Don't ask permission, ask forgiveness if confronted later".
I have zero doubt that Airbus will survive. It's a matter of national pride and a strong desire to offer competition to Boeing.
Things may look bad now, but there will be a miracle recovery ... WTO or no. "Don't ask permission, ask forgiveness if confronted later".
Union Goon
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,097
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey, USA
How many major new aircraft had enough orders to break even even before entry into service. I suspect the answer
Ummmmm over 450 orders for the 787 so far.
interestingly in the time since the 380 was launched, boeing has booked as many 747 sales...
CHeers
Wino






