Sad Day in Wichita

[onewhippedpuppy]

After over 80 years, Boeing is leaving Wichita.

Wichita facility’s closing will affect 2,160 Boeing workers | Wichita Eagle

From once employing over 40,000 employees in the air capital, the company is finally pulling out of our city. Making matters worse the KS congressional delegation fought for the KC-46 tanker program with the promise of 7500 jobs less than one year ago. It's a big blow for a city that's been hit hard by the economy.

[patssle]

For example, it is 70 percent more expensive to do the work in Wichita than in San Antonio, Bass said. That figure includes wages, the cost of the infrastructure and the cost of doing business here.

Holy crap! That's a difference!

Good for Texas. Bad for Kansas. Unless those wages are going to be crap, which many of the new jobs in Texas are.

[azasadny]

The "giant sucking sound" that Ross Perot talked about is pulling jobs down near Mexico...

[porsche4life]

A large chunk of that 2100 is coming to OK.... I didn't even know Boeing was in OK...

[patssle]

Originally Posted by azasadny

The "giant sucking sound" that Ross Perot talked about is pulling jobs down near Mexico...

Where there's a large population willing to work for crap wages.

From 2007 to 2010, the number of minimum wage workers in Texas rose from 221,000 to 550,000, an increase of nearly 150 percent.

[BRPORSCHE]

Matt,

I saw the headline on google/finance and immediately thought of you. Hopefully this doesn't effect your family.

[Flieger]

I thought Boeing was in Washington State.

[Joeaksa]

Sad day for the "Air Capital of the World!"

[rick-l]

Is it that big a deal for Wichita? Spirit, who builds the 737 fuselage, employs 12,000 there.

As for the 2100 who got the whack ..... BTDT time to move.

[dar636]

Guess where the hell Spirit came from? The last big stick up the rear to Wichita.

Sorry to hear that folks in KS. My industry, former company and current customer can suck these days.

[Superman]

Originally Posted by Flieger

I thought Boeing was in Washington State.

It was. Until Boeing chose to sacrifice quality for low cost. Striving to become the McDonalds of aviation.

[rick-l]

Originally Posted by dar636

Guess where the hell Spirit came from? .

Canada?

[onewhippedpuppy]

2100 people out of their jobs is always painful, especially in a city hit hard by the economy and stigma attached to aircraft ownership by our wonderful "leadership" in Washington (thanks Barry!). It's also sad because Boeing has been a part of this city for so long. Fortunately it does not personally impact me, I'm at a different aircraft company.

Spirit is actually doing well, since taking over from Boeing they've diversified and grown the business. They also will continue to build commercial parts and assemblies for Boeing, so this shouldn't hurt them.

Ultimately this is another union related casualty, our labor workforce is exponentially more expensive than that in non-union states.

[cashflyer]

Originally Posted by Superman

Until Boeing chose to sacrifice quality for low cost.

What Boeing chose is to make the company more profitable.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by Superman

It was. Until Boeing chose to sacrifice quality for low cost. Striving to become the McDonalds of aviation.

Ahh, lets get to be a bit more realistic.

Boeing has built airplanes in Wichita for decades, starting in 1927. It all really started as the Stearman Aircraft company in Wichita in 1925.

Lets not get your personal feelings in the way of facts Supe... Boeings are heads and shoulders better than any other commercial airliner out there. Had they not moved production around the country as needed they would have gone bankrupt years ago. Every other aircraft maker in the world does this, so why are you jumping down Boeing's throat for doing what is necessary to stay alive?

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

and stigma attached to aircraft ownership by our wonderful "leadership" in Washington (thanks Barry!). .

Anything he wants to make a stigma, I'd consider a badge of honor, especially attaining the level of success needed to own a jet.

[Zeke]

Nothing to like about Boeing. They totally raped Long Beach, but the downturn in real estate value raped them right back. You might remember they closed all operations save the C17, tore down the buildings (the whole of the former Douglas Aircraft Company) and built a business park.

The park remains bare dirt. Over 200 acres of bare dirt. May Boeing go down in flames.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Anything he wants to make a stigma, I'd consider a badge of honor, especially attaining the level of success needed to own a jet.

For our boss it is. One of the things that he considers being successful is being able to have a business aircraft. Anything "the Kenyan" does not like is good for us!

[rick-l]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Nothing to like about Boeing. They totally raped Long Beach, but the downturn in real estate value raped them right back. You might remember they closed all operations save the C17, tore down the buildings (the whole of the former Douglas Aircraft Company) and built a business park.

The park remains bare dirt. Over 200 acres of bare dirt. May Boeing go down in flames.

Tell me why you would want to do business in California if you didn't have to???

EDIT: McDonnell Douglas was almost broke when they were acquired by Boeing.

[dhoward]

There are pretty palm trees there.