Aerospace group finally has a pilot

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Published: Monday, June 10, 2013, 12:01 a.m.

A longstanding presence in Washington, the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance named Melanie Jordan as the organization's executive director in February at its annual conference. PNAA previously had just a board of directors and lacked a focal.

"It was time for PNAA to have a face, a point of contact," Jordan said.

Jordan, who's a pilot, calls herself a "seasoned aviation enthusiast," having worked in the industry for four decades. She served on PNAA's board since 2007. Settling into her new role, Jordan recently talked about what distinguishes PNAA, which represents more than 700 companies in the region.

"We're the go-to organization for aerospace companies, lawmakers and anyone seeking information about the industry," she said.

In recent years, jetmakers have boosted production and competition among suppliers -- as well as regions. Here in Washington, there has been an effort to align education and workforce training to support the industry's needs.

"It's an exciting time in aerospace manufacturing," Jordan said.

Jordan's goals for PNAA in the coming years include growing the association's annual conference, increasing PNAA membership and continuing to build relationships with other aerospace organizations, regionally and internationally.

PNAA's annual conference has grown significantly over the past few years, drawing an increasingly international audience. The three-day event features speakers from jetmakers like Boeing, Airbus and Embraer. It also connects small and medium-sized companies with each other and with large suppliers. Notable analysts like Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group and Scott Hamilton of Leeham Co. also provide perspectives on the industry.

Jordan anticipates the conference will be "more successful than ever" when it's held Feb. 4-6 next year in Lynnwood.

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Aerospace group finally has a pilot

‘Tale of Two Cycles’ in Aerospace & Defense, According to AlixPartners Study

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NEW YORK, June 10, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global aerospace and defense (A &D) industry appears set to continue the drama for the foreseeable future. Some sectors, such as commercial aerospace, are booming, while others, such as defense in most Western countries, are declining. That's according to a new study, released on the eve of the industry's all-important Paris Air Show, from AlixPartners, the global business-advisory firm. Furthermore, says the study, continuous traffic growth is driving an overall industry profit pool increase, and the battle for the profit pool is expected to intensify across the board. AlixPartners concludes that in order to survive and thrive in the current industry cycle companies in the A &D industry must become more efficient, especially in the face of challenging commercial-aircraft ramp-ups, and diversify into new, more promising geographic defense markets.

The AlixPartners Global Aerospace & Defense Industry Outlook, a comprehensive analysis of sector and company financials as well as key industry trends, reveals much about the current state of the A &D industry and its future outlook. The overall industry grew by 6.8% in 2012, and showed improvement over the previous year's sales growth of 5.5%, but fell short of pre-financial-crisis growth levels (e.g., 10% in 2008). Digging deeper, however, the AlixPartners study reveals a mixed bag among sectors, with some clear winners and losers. Driving overall industry growth is commercial aerospace, which has been boosted by new orders and a 5% increase in airline and cargo traffic globally. However, the defense sector slowed significantly in the West, due to budget cuts.

While lower-tier suppliers have traditionally outperformed OEMs, the winds have changed. OEM revenue growth accelerated (from 1.6% in 2011 to 6.7% in 2012), while lower-tier supplier growth slowed (from 10.2% in 2011 to 6.6% in 2012). And, as frequent front-page headlines over the past year have noted, the airline industry has seen further consolidation, and near-consolidations, as it continued its struggle for profits.

"Right now, almost every part of the aerospace and defense business is having another look at costs, searching for efficiencies and struggling to stay ahead of the changing environments in which they do business," said Eric Bernardini, managing director at AlixPartners and head of the firm's global Aerospace & Defense Practice. "With the huge number of changes happening all at once -- whether in defense or commercial aviation -- identifying and keeping ahead of trends is what will generate long-term success."

Defense -- Cutting Costs and Capturing Emerging-Market Growth

The war on cost is heating up in the defense sector as companies are simultaneously chasing fewer revenue opportunities in Western nations and facing stiffer competition for a slice of the addressable emerging-market pie, says the study. Driven by retrenchment in the U.S. and Europe, global defense spending fell in 2012 for the first time since the 1998 spending drop, to $1.7 trillion in 2012. At the same time, the proportion of global spending by China and Russia is increasing, and, according to the study, by 2016 those two countries will make up almost a third (32%) of global spending by the "top 5" spenders (vs. just 17% in 2011).

With China and Russia being largely inaccessible to Western defense companies, this phenomenon is further squeezing the addressable market for Western companies. This will drive intense competition to capture export business in accessible emerging markets, such as Brazil and India, says AlixPartners.

"The rules are rapidly changing in defense," said Dave Fitzpatrick, managing director at AlixPartners and leader of the firm's Aerospace & Defense Practice in North America. "Traditional selling strategies are coming under great pressure and competitions in export markets -- particularly for combat aircraft -- are increasingly becoming 'winner-takes-all' deals."

Those with more balanced portfolios, such as lower-tier suppliers, will more easily be able to tackle the challenges of this new environment than will most OEMs, many of whom today are 80% reliant on defense and 75% dependent on U.S. and European markets. Moreover, finds the study, the cyber security market -- viewed by many as the "saving grace" of Western defense companies -- will likely not grow enough to compensate for declining defense spending.

To compete and thrive in this environment, according to AlixPartners, the key for defense firms will be to focus on cost reduction, improving both domestic programs' affordability and competitiveness in emerging markets. Aside from defense growth in emerging markets, the homeland security market globally, projected by the study to grow to $281 billion by 2022, represents another potential new path to profitability, according to AlixPartners. Defense companies that can leverage their program management, integration experience and government-contracting skills will be most able to take advantage of this opportunity, says the study.

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'Tale of Two Cycles' in Aerospace & Defense, According to AlixPartners Study

U.S. Expansion Poised for Longevity

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The modest pace of the U.S. economic recovery has a silver lining, as the expansion shows signs of lasting almost twice as long as average.

Four years into the upswing, the economy isnt seeing many of the excesses that often presage the start of contractions. Inflation is slowing, not quickening. Household debt is shrinking, not expanding. The labor market is slack, not tight.

Pent-up demand also bodes well for the longevity of the recovery, which has averaged annual growth of about 2 percent since its start in June 2009. Confronted by elevated unemployment and a depressed housing market, Americans put off forming families, buying homes and acquiring cars. Now, with house prices rising and payrolls expanding more rapidly, their behavior is changing.

The current expansion can continue another four to five years, said Robert Gordon, a professor at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, whos a member of the National Bureau of Economic Research committee that determines when recessions begin and end.

That would make this upswing the second longest on record, behind only the 10-year period that spanned the 1990s. The average since the end of World War II is just shy of five years, at 58 months.

Reflecting the slow, steady pace of the recovery, payrolls rose 175,000 last month, in line with the average over the past year, Labor Department figures released on June 7 showed.

If the economy keeps expanding for the next three to five years, earnings will go up and the stock market will go up, said Allen Sinai, chief executive officer of Decision Economics Inc. in New York. He said the Standard & Poors 500 Index may rise as high as 1,750 later this year and could hit 2,000 in 2015. The stocks benchmark was at 1,643.38 at 4 p.m. on June 7.

Anticipating stronger sales in the years ahead, Ford Motor Co. (F) will add capacity to build 200,000 more vehicles annually in North America on rising demand for F-Series pickups and Fusion sedans, the Dearborn, Michigan-based company said in a May 22 statement.

The sales and marketing guys are obviously very confident, because theyve asked for additional capacity and were providing it, Jim Tetreault, vice president of North America manufacturing, said in a telephone interview.

Economic growth will speed up to 2.9 percent next year and 3.2 percent in 2015, from 1.9 percent this year, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc. in New York.

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U.S. Expansion Poised for Longevity

Fantasy baseball Weekly Planner: Sorting out the Biogenesis mess

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Allegations of involvement with the Biogenesis clinic could land Ryan Braun a lengthy suspension.

Morry Gash/AP

Biogenesis and potential suspensions were back in the headlines this week and caused some panic for the fantasy owners of the players reportedly linked to the busted South Florida anti-aging clinic this week. It is not time to overreact in yearly leagues, though.

The Players Union and the players' attorneys are going to dig in for a fight, and it should be expected most of the prominent players linked to Anthony Bosch will appeal any suspension that is delivered in the next few weeks or months. We might not hear anything else on this topic until late in the season, if not the offseason. Appeals would go to arbitration, and the Players Union is certain to defend the players' rights strongly here, because of the nature of the allegations and the actual proof that exists.

Let's break down the top alleged players who could face suspension once the dust does finally settle:

OF Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers -- He has already won one appeal, so the reports he might face a 100-game suspension are a bit overblown. If not for a thumb issue that has hampered him of late and forced him out of Sunday's game, you should capitalize on an overreacting fantasy owner and consider trading for him.

OF Nelson Cruz, Texas Rangers -- You might think the news would put a lot on Cruz's mind and lead to a slump by the streaky slugger, but he homered Sunday, his second since the report of Bosch's cooperation with baseball surfaced. This is a contract year for Cruz, so you should feel confident he is focused for as long as he stays active.

SP Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals -- This week's reports have Gonzalez having only acquired legal substances, so you should feel fairly confident this lefty won't be affected in fantasy. He has also improved of late after a slow start -- curse you, WBC? -- so keep riding him in all fantasy leagues, especially daily formats when the matchup is favorable.

SS Jhonny Peralta, Detroit Tigers -- He is hitting .338 and has been a multi-hit machine of late. He won't continue at this pace, but he is absolutely mixed-league worthy while going well, particularly hitting behind the likes of Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder and a recently resurgent Victor Martinez.

3B Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees -- The Yankees coming out and admitting A-Rod will never produce to the level of his contract was an ominous start to last Tuesday's breaking news. It was already readily apparent to fantasy owners. This news won't delay A-Rod's rehabilitation from January hip surgery, so continue to consider him a viable stash on the disabled list.

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Fantasy baseball Weekly Planner: Sorting out the Biogenesis mess

Eric Mack: Fantasy baseball Weekly Planner: Sorting out the Biogenesis mess

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Allegations of involvement with the Biogenesis clinic could land Ryan Braun a lengthy suspension.

Morry Gash/AP

Biogenesis and potential suspensions were back in the headlines this week and caused some panic for the fantasy owners of the players reportedly linked to the busted South Florida anti-aging clinic this week. It is not time to overreact in yearly leagues, though.

The Players Union and the players' attorneys are going to dig in for a fight, and it should be expected most of the prominent players linked to Anthony Bosch will appeal any suspension that is delivered in the next few weeks or months. We might not hear anything else on this topic until late in the season, if not the offseason. Appeals would go to arbitration, and the Players Union is certain to defend the players' rights strongly here, because of the nature of the allegations and the actual proof that exists.

Let's break down the top alleged players who could face suspension once the dust does finally settle:

OF Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers -- He has already won one appeal, so the reports he might face a 100-game suspension are a bit overblown. If not for a thumb issue that has hampered him of late and forced him out of Sunday's game, you should capitalize on an overreacting fantasy owner and consider trading for him.

OF Nelson Cruz, Texas Rangers -- You might think the news would put a lot on Cruz's mind and lead to a slump by the streaky slugger, but he homered Sunday, his second since the report of Bosch's cooperation with baseball surfaced. This is a contract year for Cruz, so you should feel confident he is focused for as long as he stays active.

SP Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals -- This week's reports have Gonzalez having only acquired legal substances, so you should feel fairly confident this lefty won't be affected in fantasy. He has also improved of late after a slow start -- curse you, WBC? -- so keep riding him in all fantasy leagues, especially daily formats when the matchup is favorable.

SS Jhonny Peralta, Detroit Tigers -- He is hitting .338 and has been a multi-hit machine of late. He won't continue at this pace, but he is absolutely mixed-league worthy while going well, particularly hitting behind the likes of Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder and a recently resurgent Victor Martinez.

3B Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees -- The Yankees coming out and admitting A-Rod will never produce to the level of his contract was an ominous start to last Tuesday's breaking news. It was already readily apparent to fantasy owners. This news won't delay A-Rod's rehabilitation from January hip surgery, so continue to consider him a viable stash on the disabled list.

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Eric Mack: Fantasy baseball Weekly Planner: Sorting out the Biogenesis mess

European Cargo Ship Launches to International Space Station / ATV-4 Albert Einstein Heads to ISS – Video

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European Cargo Ship Launches to International Space Station / ATV-4 Albert Einstein Heads to ISS
Lifting off from the European Space Agencies #39; Kourou French Guiana, launch facility, the next space resupply vehicle Albert Einstein, or better known as ATV-...

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European Cargo Ship Launches to International Space Station / ATV-4 Albert Einstein Heads to ISS - Video

Launch of European Ariane 5 Rocket with Cargo Ship to International Space Station (ISS) (ESA/NASA) – Video

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Launch of European Ariane 5 Rocket with Cargo Ship to International Space Station (ISS) (ESA/NASA)
If you like PC Games visit: http://www.freemmorpgtoplay.com/ The European Space Agency #39;s (ESA) fourth Automated Transfer Vehicle cargo craft (ATV-4) launched...

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Launch of European Ariane 5 Rocket with Cargo Ship to International Space Station (ISS) (ESA/NASA) - Video