Hawker Beech Remains Feisty And Hopeful About Their Future Prospects

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 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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