Adam Pilarski is starting his speech on aerospace. It’s title: “The Independent View or Reality Bites.” He started his remarks by saying, “I was told to keep it positive and, I’m sorry, I don’t lie.”

His talk is about how the world is changing and how that affects aerospace. (Again, I’m live blogging the aerospace council summit today. See U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks’ comments in the post below.)

“What drives the market? This is how I got my Ph.D. in Economics: Demand and supply,” he said, to laughs. “It is really critical, economy drives traffic … when people are unemployed and don’t make money, they don’t fly that much, except Europeans who take vacation regardless,” he said. (more…)

Tags: aerospace

I’m live blogging today’s summit on “Saving Washington Aerospace.” Rep. Norm Dicks has just started speaking.

After a few introductory remarks,
“As this summit convenes, the aerospace industry is in the middle of probably the greatest economic downturn in 80 years,” he said. Keep refreshing the browser to stay updated on his remarks.

“Models that the industry relied on in the past has to be re-examined if it is to recover,” Dicks said. “The highly competitive situation in aerospace today is the result of many factors,” he said, citing fuel price volatility, the economic downturn and a global recession that has lead to a downturn in air travel. (more…)

Tags: aerospace

Here’s the entire hearing on the Governor’s proposal to create an “Aerospace Council.”

Here’s the bill report.

Tags: aerospace

Right now on TVW, you can watch the hearing for HB 2308 — the bill proposed by Gov. Chris Gregoire last week that would create an aerospace council for the state.

So far, those who have testified have emphasized how the council (which would include aerospace employers, university representatives, lawmakers and others related to the industry) would help keep Washington’s aerospace industry competitive and ahead of the pack.

Tags: aerospace

Sen. Ed Murray: “Washington has been good for aerospace and aerospace has been good for Washington,” Murray said. “When it comes to aerospace, our higher education system is second to none.”

Murray said the council will help strengthen the state’s already established industry.

Rep. Jeff Morris said the state has done a lot, but must do more in order to stay competitive.

Sen. Mike Hewitt: “It’s very, very important for all of us to keep track of where we’re at, keep competitive and make sure that the next Boeing airplanes are built in the state of Washington.”

Gregoire said the council will help ensure that students across community colleges will have similar training, likewise for universities.

“Our research and development is great, but it sits in silos,” Gregoire said. She wants to integrate research from WSU and UW. “What we can do with this council, we can actually get ahead of anybody.”

Gregoire said Boeing wasn’t available for the press conference only because their representative couldn’t make it. She said they’re supportive of it.

She also said she found out this morning that she heard of the reduction in 777 production — from 7 to 5 — and she asked if it would lead to layoffs. “The answer was yes.”

Tags: aerospace, boeing

Here’s what Gregoire has to say about aerospace competitiveness:

“We have made it very clear in Washington state we will not forget for one minute the great industries we have in Washington state,” she said — including aerospace. “We need to do more, and that’s why we decided for an outsider to take a measured, objective and outsider look,” she said — the study she’s referencing today.

She said the state’s advantages include the workforce, strong research and development and quality of life.

“But the study also confirmed that we need to do more to stay ahead,” she said. She noted “creating an environment where labor and business can communicate.”

She’s introducing legislation to create a council on aerospace. She said it will work to coordinate efforts at Washington’s universities and community and technical colleges.

“We need to make sure that their training is coordinated statewide.” She said we also need to “seamlessly” connect UW and WSU’s research efforts that are “very critical to the future of aerospace in this world.”

She also wants the council to “foster an environment of supercommunication,” which means communication among her office, business, universities, researchers, and more.

The council will include four legislators, the UW and WSU presidents, a Boeing representative and many more.

“We are determined that that tanker will be built in not only the United States but in our state.”

Tags: aerospace, boeing, Governor