Although Boeing is rightly thought of as an aerospace giant, it’s increasingly expanding into general aviation with a recently established discrete business unit called Boeing Global Services. At Redbird’s 9th annual Migration training conference in Denver, Boeing’s William Ampofo summarized how the $17 billion business unit is increasing its footprint in light aircraft and business GA, with a strong emphasis on future pilot needs.
Headquartered in Dallas, Global Services employs about 23,000 people and includes Jeppesen, Aviall and the recently acquired ForeFlight and KLX, a supply chain business that Boeing renamed Boeing Distribution Services and which supplies parts and components to both Boeing customers and competitors.
Boeing is also partnering with Redbird on training initiatives to fill a pilot pipeline that Ampofo predicts will swell to a need for 330,000 pilots worldwide by 2030. Boeing also forecasts that some 40,000 new commercial aircraft will be fielded in the next 20 years. “There a downward pressure on infrastructure to do this, mostly in people,” he said. That includes not just pilots but maintenance technicians and related occupations. The Migration conference will continue through Thursday.
Why doesn’t Boeing use its manufacturing prowess to design a “Volks” airplane that mere mortals can afford. If they’re going to need so many pilots, maintainers, et al, what a great way to help prime the pipeline. Cessna doesn’t appear interested anymore. Where the heck are all these people gonna come from … trees? “Training initiatives” ain’t enough. And flying cars aren’t gonna do it, either.
That would be a much cheaper electric airplane, something I’d like to hear from them as well. Training mechanics for electric airplanes is also needed. Electric airplanes might not have the range but they are easier to design, too maintain, and no tailpipe emissions. That would be a good public image boost for the company.
Instead, I see Germany seriously raising taxes on flight for climate change with us caught in the never ending paying cycle.
Same reason IBM didn’t invent the PC: totally different design criteria from their legacy expertise. And how many volks-planes would they have to manufacture and sell (at your price-point) to make up for one 737? I’m not sure the market is there, even at the MSRP of a new F-150.
I think IBM did invent the PC… ; )
The first personal computer produced by IBM was called the PC, and the term PC came to mean IBM. IBM compatible personal computers followed.