Labor Day @ Boeing
The IAM leadership unanimously decided to recommend a strike
vote by its 28,000 strong membership. A two-thirds majority vote is
required to strike. If a two-thirds majority is not reached the
contract would be approved and a strike avoided. IAM’s video response to the “best and final” offer. Boeing expressed its “extreme disappointment” in the IAM’s recommendation of a strike.
The most visible sticking point centers on job security in the face of growing
outsourcing. A concern left unaddressed in Boeing’s “best and final”
contract presented to the Union last Thursday.
This is an unstoppable force and an immovable object on a collision course for one another.
2 days to go.
Hurricane Gustav
About five hours from the time this is posted, Hurricane Gustav will make landfall on the Gulf Coast of the United States, once again slamming New Orleans with brutal weather. We pray that the New Orleans and the Gulf Coast escape the wrath of this storm.
The storm track has it plowing a course between New Orleans and Houston, undoubtedly wreaking havoc on America’s air traffic system. As of 6:30 PM local time on August 31, “The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport has ceased commercial flight operations.”
The active TAF at 3:36 PM (8/31) for MSY has winds gusting at 5:00 AM local to 60 kts and 70 kts by 9:00 AM this morning. Not pretty.
The course also has the storm on track to hit America’s oil infrastructure. Refineries along the coast and off shore drilling platforms will undoubtedly be impacted by Gustav. The already astronomical price of oil, which had been coming down in recent weeks, could shoot back up hitting cash strapped airlines just as the summer travel season ends and fares have historically begun to come down.
A Flightglobal Film
With last week’s news of the “shower related delay” for the second Emirate’s A380, the first A380 had quite an inaugural flight. Flight’s Lori Ranson was invited to cover the first flight from Dubai to JFK on August 1. The first revenue flight of A6-EDA was masterfully captured on film by Lori and edited by yours truly. We couldn’t get permission
to use Jet Airliner, an aviation rock classic by Steve Miller, so our European team opted for a “moody
European Cinema vibe to the piece.” Not my first choice.
Lori’s account is packed with fantastic tail cam footage of both take off and landing, a full on-board tour, Emirates chief Tim Clark comparing the 777-300 (classic) to the 747-400, and even a great shot of the superjumbo’s safety card. I edited in the seat map of the A380, so you always know where you are on board.
Total running time for the video is 30-plus minutes, in three parts. Enjoy.
This post was originally published to the internet between 2007 and 2012. Links, images, and embedded media from that era may no longer function as intended.
This post originally appeared at Flightglobal.com from 2007 to 2012.