I know you all are busy, but please take a few minutes out of your schedules to read this very important letterand .pdf file (attached) from the CEO of the company I work for.  You may have heard some of the bad news for the aircraft industry… and for the city of Wichita… when Boeing announced they are leaving town after 85 years of making planes in Wichita.  We need to do everything we can to try and keep some of these jobs here!

I’m usually the LAST person to forward any kind of political emails but this one is VERY close to home for me!  We need to keep these jobs in Wichita… we need to keep these jobs in the USA… and most of all we need to give our men and women who will be flying combat missions in the next Light Air Support aircraft the BEST airplane we can to keep them as safe as possible!!

Thank you for your time.

DJ

P.S.  Feel free to pass on to ALL of your friends!!

Video added: Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

From: Hawker Beechcraft Employee Communications
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2012 8:30 AM
Subject: Bill Boisture message to all Hawker Beechcraft employees


From the desk of: Bill Boisture
Chairman & CEO
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation
Wichita, KS

I am writing you to ask for your help.

The U.S. Air Force has made a fundamentally FLAWED DECISION to award the Light Air Support (LAS) contract to the Brazilian-made Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano.  The 314 costs over 25% more, and it does less in the mission environment than the U.S.-made Beechcraft AT-6.

This is a billion dollar contract award starting with 20 aircraft, but giving the USAF authority to buy up to roughly 60 aircraft.  The LAS contract is meant to support our nation’s Building Partner Capacity policy, which provides friendly nations the capability to defend themselves as our forces withdraw and to equip their own forces instead of deploying ours.  The pilots in these friendly nations have trained in our country in the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II trainer operated by the USAF and U.S. Navy.  The T-6 has been in service since 1999 with dependable, safe performance.

The U.S. Air Force has evaluated the Super Tucano before!! In the 1996 competition for the Joint Primary Aircraft Trainer (JPATS) Program, the USAF REJECTED the EMB 312 ON THE BASIS OF POOR AIRCRAFT HANDLING QUALITIES and decided to acquire the T-6 Texan II.  In the current LAS acquisition process there was NO hands-on evaluation of the competitive aircraft.  Had there been, the poor handling qualities of the Brazilian-made aircraft would have, once again, been readily apparent. 

The U.S. Air Force IGNORED very significant factors while making the LAS contract decision:

1.      The AT-6 predecessor, the T-6, is used to train every DOD fixed-wing pilot.  Any Allied pilot training done in the U.S. is done in the T-6.  THE AIRPLANE IS PROVEN IN OVER 1.8 MILLION FLYING HOURS OF RELIABLE SERVICE.

2.      The AT-6 employs a mission system from the A10C Thunderbolt II aircraft that has been proven in every desert combat campaign, it employs the sensor system from the MC12W Liberty aircraft currently deployed in Afghanistan, and it has proven capability to accurately deliver a wide range of current U.S. and NATO precision and unguided munitions in Congressionally sponsored, Air National Guard funded tactical demonstrations.  The U.S. TAXPAYERS HAVE ALREADY PAID ONCE for the development of all of these capabilities and they are integrated in the AT-6. WHY PAY A SECOND TIME FOR A MORE EXPENSIVE ALTERNATIVE?

3.      The logistic support system for the AT-6 airframe and mission systems is in place and paid for today.  Maintainer training, pilot training, technical manuals, parts stocks are all part of the U.S. DOD capability today!  WHY TAKE THE RISK OF INTRODUCING ANOTHER AIRCRAFT (with no established U.S. support capability) AT A HIGHER COST WITH LESS COMBAT CAPABILITY?

4.      THE USAF DECISION PROCESS DID NOT INCLUDE A HANDS-ON EVALUATION OF THE EMB314 FLIGHT HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS.  This is important because in a previous competition in 1996, the POOR (UNSAFE) HANDLING QUALITIES of the EMB312 as evaluated by the USAF was a major factor in the decision to buy the T-6.

This is a difficult time in our country.  Our economy is slowed and high quality manufacturing jobs are on the wane.  Just last week, the President called on industry leaders to help rebuild the U.S. job base and in-source jobs back to America.  The U.S. Air Force decision for the EMB 314 will result in the LOSS OF 1,400 U.S. JOBS.  For Hawker Beechcraft in Wichita, 500 of those are engineering jobs and 300 are highly skilled aircraft manufacturing jobs.  The tradeoff is 50 jobs in Florida to facilitate “U.S. delivery” of an aircraft manufactured by Brazilian labor and flown to the U.S.

It is fair to tell you that Embraer has a U.S. partner, Sierra Nevada Corporation, based in Nevada with the Congressional support that brings.  This relationship allowed the bid to be entered as a U.S. company.  If the parallels between the Boeing and Airbus competition on the U.S. Air Force tanker contractor are striking, they should be. 

We have filed suit against the U.S. Government in the Federal Claims Court, and the judge has agreed to hear the case on its merits.  In the face of this review, the U.S. Air Force has issued a stop work order on the LAS contract.  That would seem to indicate the error of this decision might now be recognized, but we are not relying on this process.

If the U.S. Air Force decision to award this contract to a foreign aircraft does not make sense to you, I am writing you to ask for your help.  It is very easy. Go to our website, Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or , and use the already prepared letters to let our leaders know what you want done.  The site also supports writing your own letter if time and interest permits.  LOOK OVER THE ENCLOSED MATERIALS AND SEE IF THIS U.S. AIR FORCE DECISION MAKES SENSE TO YOU AS A U.S. TAXPAYER.  I guarantee it will not.  If you agree, please pass this letter and the attachment on to your friends.

On behalf of our 6,000 people, I want to thank you for taking the time to get this decision objectively reviewed by our nation’s decision makers.


Sincerely,


Bill Boisture
Chairman & CEO

Great point Barb!

A friend of mine posted this on my Facebok page and it is very true:

"Please Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or . Do you really want the aircraft that protects your homeland built in foreign lands! We grounded the Iranian AF in 1980 by not providing spare parts to their US flown aircraft. This is not an airliner but something that provides you your basic freedoms! It's wrong, help stop this by writing your congressional representatives."

DJ

Linda and I each sent letters.  Here's hoping they do some good.

jc

Your CEO has just been demoted and debunked.


Sierra Nevada Corporation Corrects the Record on U.S. Air Force Light Air Support Program

SPARKS, Nev., Feb. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Misinformation and Legal Wrangling Delaying Mission-Critical A-29 Super Tucano for American Warfighters in Afghanistan

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), the winner of the U.S. Air Force Light Air Support (LAS) competition, today issued a point-by-point rebuttal of misinformation being spread by the disqualified contender for the contract.

The LAS contract provides aircraft, training and support for the U.S. government's partner building efforts in Afghanistan and other nations. The aircraft is urgently needed to support aerial reconnaissance and light air operations in Afghanistan, as well as to develop the organic capability needed to complete the United State's counterinsurgency mission in Afghanistan. On Dec. 22, 2011, the U.S. Air Force awarded the LAS contract to SNC, having earlier disqualified the other contender for the contract, Hawker Beechcraft, as being not in the competitive range based on the finding that "multiple deficiencies and significant weaknesses found in [Hawker Beechcraft's] proposal make it technically unacceptable and results in unacceptable mission capability risk." Since that time, Hawker Beechcraft has undertaken a massive misinformation campaign, challenged the integrity of the U.S. Air Force contracting process, questioned the intentions of the Obama Administration, and used litigation to stop work on the contract.

"It is essential that the full facts of this situation are presented clearly and transparently to the American public. There is too much at stake," said Fatih Ozmen, CEO of Sierra Nevada Corporation. "The people who are paying the price of this reckless and irresponsible behavior are the American taxpayer and the American warfighter. Sierra Nevada Corporation and our partners are honored by this award and the opportunity to serve our country as we remain ready to get to work on the LAS contract."

In its Request for Proposal, the Air Force specifically sought a non-developmental, in-production aircraft so that warfighters in-theater could have an advanced solution quickly and so that American taxpayers would not have to pay development costs. The plane proposed by SNC's competitor is a developmental aircraft that is not in production and has never been used for light air support or any other purpose.

In contrast, the aircraft selected by the Air Force and to be provided by SNC, Embraer's A-29 Super Tucano, is a light air support aircraft that is currently in use with six air forces around the world. This aircraft will be made in America by American workers. More than 88 percent of the dollar value of the A-29 Super Tucano comes from components supplied by American companies or countries that qualify under the Buy America Act. The aircraft will be built in Jacksonville, Florida creating at least 50 new high tech jobs and supporting another 1,200+ jobs across the country.

"It's unfortunate that the truth is being sacrificed for the self interests of Hawker Beechcraft and its owners, a Canadian company, Onex, and an investment bank, Goldman Sachs. Hawker Beechcraft is using aggressive media and lobbying tactics to fight the Air Force decision instead of letting the Court decide this issue in due course. These delaying tactics are having the greatest effect on our fellow Americans currently engaged in combat operations. They need the capability that only the A-29 can provide. The delay also is preventing the creation of jobs at a time when there is an urgent need to put Americans to work," said Taco Gilbert, Ret. USAF Brigadier General, and Vice President of ISR Business Development at SNC.

"Unbelievably, this is the second time that Hawker Beechcraft has prevented a light air support aircraft that has been thoroughly evaluated by our military from going forward to support our troops in need. Urgent requests for the A-29 from Afghanistan continue to languish because Hawker cannot provide an acceptable capability, but will not let anyone else provide it either," Gilbert said.

In a separate and unusual action in the midst of a legal proceeding, the USAF issued a fact sheet on the LAS acquisition process and specifically countered claims by Hawker Beechcraft that it has not received information regarding the evaluation of their proposal.

The point-by-point rebuttal of the misinformation being spread about the LAS contract is below. It and other information can also be found at builtforthemission dot com.

The Light Air Support Competition - The Facts

On Dec. 22, 2011, the United States Air Force awarded a contract for aircraft, training and support for its Light Air Support (LAS) program to Sparks, Nev.-based Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC). In the Request For Proposal, the U.S. Air Force specifically sought a non-developmental, in-production light air support aircraft. The airplane to be provided under the contract is the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano.

The other main contender for this contract, Hawker Beechcraft, of Wichita, Kan., and its prototype aircraft, the AT-6, was disqualified by the Air Force in November 2011. As the Government Accountability Office (GAO) stated, the USAF "conducted discussions with those offerors in the competitive range from April 8 until September 23, 2011. After reviewing HBDC's responses to issues raised during discussions, the Air Force concluded that HBDC had not adequately corrected deficiencies in its proposal." Since contract award, Hawker Beechcraft has been fighting the USAF decision - first to the GAO and now in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims - and waging a misinformation campaign about the winning aircraft.

CLAIM: Hawker Beechcraft says the U.S. Air Force made a "fundamentally flawed decision" in awarding the LAS contract to SNC and the A-29 Super Tucano.

FACT: The Air Force selected a proven platform in the A-29 Super Tucano that is currently in service with six air forces worldwide. The AT-6, on the other hand, is a developmental aircraft, with no planes currently flying in any air force in the world. The U.S. Air Force disqualified Hawker Beechcraft from the LAS competition because its plane was too risky. According to the GAO, the Air Force concluded that, "multiple deficiencies and significant weaknesses found in [Hawker Beechcraft's] proposal make it technically unacceptable and results in unacceptable mission capability risk."

CLAIM: Hawker Beechcraft says that awarding the LAS contract to SNC results in the loss of 1,400 U.S. jobs.

FACT: Only two prototype AT-6 aircraft are in existence. The AT-6 is not currently in production and does not support any U.S. manufacturing jobs. SNC's fulfillment of the LAS contract will support approximately the same number of U.S. jobs as Hawker Beechcraft says they would have. Specifically, 50+ new high tech jobs will be created in Jacksonville, Fla., where the A-29 Super Tucano will be made and another 1,200-plus jobs across the U.S. will be supported as a result of the LAS contract.

CLAIM: The Super Tucano will be manufactured by "Brazilian labor and flown to the U.S."

FACT: The A-29 Super Tucano will be built in America. Embraer will make the plane at a new production facility in Jacksonville, Fla. Over 88 percent of the dollar value of the A-29 Super Tucano comes from components supplied by U.S. companies or countries that qualify under the Buy America Act. No new jobs are being created in Brazil as a result of this contract.

CLAIM: The Super Tucano "costs over 25% more" than the Hawker Beechcraft AT-6.

FACT: Hawker Beechcraft has no insight into the bid provided to the U.S. Air Force by SNC and therefore has no credible basis from which to make such a statement. Unlike the AT-6, the A-29 Super Tucano has more than seven years of real-world combat and training experience behind it. This means that its operational costs are known and that all costly development issues related to weapons load, maneuverability and operations have already been worked out.

CLAIM: Hawker Beechcraft says it has delivered 740 AT-6 aircraft.

FACT: Hawker Beechcraft has neither sold nor delivered a single AT-6 aircraft. The company is deliberately confusing its T-6 trainer with the still-in-development AT-6. The U.S. Air Force specifically sought a non-developmental, in-production light attack aircraft for its LAS program. The AT-6 remains today a prototype aircraft. Hawker Beechcraft has been attempting to rework its trainer with a larger engine, intelligence/surveillance/reconnaissance (ISR) technology, and weapons in order to meet the LAS requirements. Meanwhile, more than 150 A-29 Super Tucanos are in use around the world today performing ISR and security missions. This fact is undisputed.

CLAIM: The AT-6 performs better on key combat criteria.

FACT: Only the A-29 Super Tucano has actually flown in combat. More significantly, only the A-29 was built from the ground up to perform counterinsurgency and light air support operations. The A-29 is larger in size allowing it to make full use of the 1,600-hp engine without power limitations due to torque. It sits higher off the ground and has a broader stance, increasing stability on unprepared airfields. The A-29's longer tail section increases longitudinal stability and provides exceptional accuracy for the delivery of weapons.

Only the A-29 delivery system is specifically designed with the five NATO hard points for external stores, translating into maximum operational flexibility for the war fighters in the theater. The AT-6 carries no munitions in its native configuration. This is a critical difference. The A-29 also is munitions-certified with over 130 operational external load configurations. The AT-6 is not yet munitions-certified.

CLAIM: The U.S. Air Force decision process did not include a hands-on evaluation of the A-29's flight handling characteristics.

FACT: Both the A-29 Super Tucano and the AT-6 were subject to a rigorous fly-off / flight evaluation in New Mexico in January 2011. The U.S. Air Force identified serious technical deficiencies with the AT-6 which ultimately led to the aircraft's disqualification from the LAS competition in November 2011.

CLAIM: The logistic support system for the AT-6 airframe and mission systems is in place and paid for today.

FACT: The AT-6 is a developmental aircraft. With only two prototypes in existence, it has never been in production. Hawker Beechcraft is once again claiming elements of its T-6 program as part of the AT-6 offering. Only the A-29 Super Tucano, with more than 150 aircraft in service in six air forces around the world, has an established logistical / mission support system in place.

CLAIM: Hawker Beechcraft is an American company.

FACT: Hawker Beechcraft is jointly owned by Onex, a Canadian private equity firm, and by Goldman Sachs, the investment bank that in 2008 received a $10 billion bailout from the U.S. government. The Hawker brand was invented in the United Kingdom by British Aerospace and even touts itself as one of "Britain's best-known performance brands." The AT-6 is based on a design licensed from the Swiss company Pilatus.

CLAIM: We should be creating jobs in America, not outsourcing them to other countries.

FACT: Since 2007, Hawker Beechcraft has been shifting production and employment from their headquarters in Kansas to Chihuahua, Mexico. According to recent news articles (e.g., Aviation Week Nov. 4, 2011 and the Wall Street Journal Jan. 31, 2012), Hawker Beechcraft is now carrying $2.4 billion in debt with $1.4 billion of it coming due in the next 24 months. These financial and competitive pressures seem to be driving the move to Mexico and the resulting layoff of thousands of U.S. workers. During this process, Hawker Beechcraft has extolled the talents of the company's Mexican workforce. In a February 2011 Hawker Beechcraft press release announcing the opening of the company's second facility in Mexico, Hawker CEO Bill Boisture said: "We have seen a high level of quality and craftsmanship from the country's skilled workforce and have great confidence in their ability to assume additional responsibilities in the manufacturing process." Hawker has a third facility planned for Mexico.

Sierra Nevada Corporation and its team member Embraer are both financially and technically very strong and growing companies that are investing in the U.S. SNC is the Top Woman-Owned Federal Contractor in the U.S. and is ranked among America's fastest growing private companies. Founded in 1963, SNC employs over 2,100 people in 31 locations in 16 states. It is also continuing to create new jobs in the U.S., while supporting thousands of American jobs through its significant outsourcing efforts in the U.S. SNC is privately held and 100 percent U.S.-owned.

Embraer has been in the U.S. for more than 30 years and currently employs 800 people at U.S. locations in Ft. Lauderdale and Melbourne, Fla.; Nashville, Tenn.; Mesa, Ariz.; Minneapolis, Minn.; and Windsor Locks, Conn. Embraer recently shifted global operations for its Business Jet business from Brazil to Melbourne, Fla., marking a major investment in the United States. A new production facility, recently opened in Melbourne, is creating 200 engineering and technical jobs in an area hard-hit by the winding down of the Space Shuttle program. The opening of the Jacksonville, Fla. manufacturing facility for the A-29 Super Tucano will mark a similarly significant U.S. investment.

CLAIM: Embraer is owned by the Brazilian government.

FACT: Embraer is a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange ERJ +1.47%  . The Brazilian government has no ability to interfere with the company's provision of aircraft under the LAS contract.

About Sierra Nevada Corporation: Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) is one of America's fastest growing private companies based on its significant expansion and reputation for rapid, innovative, and agile technology solutions in electronics, aerospace, avionics, space, propulsion, micro-satellite, aircraft, communications systems and solar energy. Under the leadership of CEO Fatih Ozmen and President and CFO Eren Ozmen,SNC employs over 2,100 people in 31 locations in 16 states. SNC's seven unique business areas are dedicated to providing leading-edge solutions to SNC's dynamic customer base.

SNC is also the Top Woman-Owned Federal Contractor in the United States. Over the last 30 years under the Ozmen's leadership, SNC has remained focused on providing its customers the very best in diversified technologies to meet their needs and has a strong and proven track record of success. The company continues to focus its growth on the commercial sector through internal advancements and outside acquisitions, including the emerging markets of renewable energy, telemedicine, nanotechnology, cyber and net-centric operations.

SOURCE Sierra Nevada Corporation

Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

While we have read the strong PR on both sides, from an unrelated third story there could be a possible influencing factor for choosing the Embraer Super Tucano.


Quote:


Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or


Aside from decision points, it could be this is a kiss-and-make-up with Brazil for prohibiting lucrative military sales and temporarily impeding commercial sales with Venezuela.  Dealmaking with Embraer for this contract could patch things up.  Boeing, with the best product, seems to be having a problem now and technology tranfers is again involved in the decision Brazil is making. 

Just a hunch, but a jesture of economic relationship could sneak in as a factor in choosing the Super Tucano.  Again, aside from actual decision factors.  Boeing is now getting the snub in this other deal by Brazil.