53 Days Later: Boeing Strike Finally Ends

Good morning! Happy belated Veterans Day to all who served. I just released a new video on my YouTube channel—one I’m especially proud of. We often thank military personnel for their service, but it’s their spouses, children, moms and dads who are the backbone of their sacrifices. If your parents have ever supported you in achieving your goals, then I think you’ll enjoy this one. 🛩️

-Rob Roy

In today’s email:

• Boeing Machinists Score 38% Raise, Return to Work

• Around the Skies: California airport goes green, Fatal prop strike, M700 Fury goes global, Upgraded Citation flight decks, FAA targets Lycoming engines, Joby takes flight in Japan, Spirit Airlines aircraft struck by gunfire

• PilotTube: The Blueprint for a Perfect Airport Design

THE BUSINESS OF AVIATION

Boeing Machinists Trade Picket Signs for Pay Raises

After a 53-day stand-off, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) finally reached a deal with Boeing, bringing an end to the strike that kept everyone guessing—and kept planes grounded. In a nail-biting, social-media-streamed vote, over 26,000 union members in Seattle and Gladstone, Oregon, decided by a 59 percent margin to approve a shiny new contract that promises a 38 percent pay raise over the next four years. Compound that raise, and it’s a cool 43 percent.

Jon Holden, the president of IAM District 751, couldn’t help but bask in the victory. “Tonight, our members voted to accept the agreement,” he said. “It was a tough, no-punches-pulled strike, but our folks held the line. Now it’s back to the grind—building airplanes, cranking up production and making sure Boeing’s bottom line is flying high again.” The deal also includes a hefty $12,000 ratification bonus and sweetens the 401(k) pot with an 8 percent match, though that elusive pension remains as mythical as in-flight Wi-Fi that actually works. 👀

Meanwhile, in a plot twist that could’ve been ripped from a workplace drama series, rumors were swirling that Boeing’s CEO, Kelly Ortberg, was ready to pull the plug on those generous offers if the vote didn’t go his way. Fortunately for all involved, IAM members are expected back on the job by November 12th, hopefully without too much turbulence. Here’s to hoping they still remember their locker combinations…

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AROUND THE SKIES

🛩️ Reid-Hillview Airport in San Jose is ready to ditch the lead and sell G100UL, an unleaded fuel giving the skies a green makeover. With this new fuel on tap, local FBOs might soon have no choice but to embrace the cleaner skies movement—whether they’re ready or not.

🛩️ A tragic accident occurred at Cook Airfield in Kansas where skydiver Amanda Gallagher, distracted while photographing other jumpers, accidentally backed into the spinning propeller of a Cessna 182 and died. Both the FAA and NTSB are investigating, highlighting the importance of strict safety awareness around propellers that can be deceptively invisible at high speeds.

🛩️ The Piper M700 Fury just cleared major international certifications, opening the door for deliveries to Brazil, Australia and the EU. This speedy single-engine turboprop, now approved for unpaved runways and icy conditions, is set to dazzle new markets with its Pratt & Whitney engine and 301-knot cruise speed.

🛩️ Textron Aviation is upgrading the flight decks of its Citation CJ4, CJ3 and M2 business jets. Announcing the changes during the recent NBAA-BACE show in Las Vegas, the manufacturer explained that the CJ4 Gen 3 model will be equipped with Garmin’s latest G3000 Prime avionics suite, while the G3000 suites in the Gen3 versions of the CJ3 and M2 will get Garmin's Autoland technology, as will the CJ4 Gen3.

🛩️ The FAA just dropped an airworthiness directive on 16,000 Lycoming engines made between 2009 and 2017 after reports of faulty connecting rods causing in-flight engine shutdowns. The solution? Routine oil inspections to sniff out bronze particles, with pricey part replacements if needed.

🛩️ Joby Aviation’s electric air taxi just made its international debut in Japan, flying against the iconic backdrop of Mount Fuji. Backed by Toyota’s $900 million investment, this eVTOL aims to zip through congested cities at 200 mph while staying as quiet as rustling leaves.

A spray of bullets forced a Spirit Airlines flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to divert as it attempted to land in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, with Americans on board. The Haitian airport is now closed; just last month, a UN helicopter carrying 18 people was also targeted by gang-related gunfire.

PilotTube

Architect Michael Wyetzner breaks down the art of making airports not just efficient but actually enjoyable. While no one’s eager to linger in terminals, designers like Zaha Hadid have mastered turning them into spaces that are both functional and visually stunning. If you're delayed, at least you can wait in style surrounded by great design.

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