After 40 years at Boeing, it is time to retire

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

June 19, 1980, I was hired by Boeing to build hydrofoils for the US Navy. After 3 layoffs and rehires, I finally was hired for the last time in 1986. Most of my career was spent in the 737 program, from the tail end of the first generation, the classic, the next generation and now the MAX. I worked on every dash number version, from the -100 to the -900 and now the -7, -8, -9 and -10. I also spent some time on the first 757, the AWACS program and almost 5 years helping launch the 777 program.

I started out as an electrician wiring airplanes. While on the 777 program, I was offered a job as a functional test technician and have done this since. I have work on virtually every system on the 737. My real expertise was in the passenger cabin. I have seen the planes go from basic incandescent and fluorescent lighting to the current computer controlled LED lighting. I know the in flight entertainment systems inside and out. I was the man when it came to passenger oxygen systems. It will still be a while before anyone will repack as many oxygen masks that I repacked over the years. For the past 20 years, I was the guy that tested the planes with gaseous oxygen.

I have spent much of the past 3 years working in a support roll on what we call a barge. My job was called a manufacturing representative. Anyone having any problems with anything, this includes the planes, facilities, management, parts, QA, and more, they came to me. If I couldn’t find a fix, I handed it off to the folks that could.

With the shut down of 737 production then the Covid mess, things at work are really a mess. 2 years ago we were building 52 airplanes a month. Now it’s 4 a month and that is being cut to 2 next month. I tried holding onto my job but the production line I worked on is no more. I even had my computer taken from me a few weeks ago. We have a whole new management team in place on the 737 program, any reputation us long time employees have earned have been tossed out with the trash. Last week I was loaned to another organization doing mindless jobs.

This is not how I thought the end was happen. I am going out with my head held high knowing I did the best of my ability all these years. With the current problems facing Boeing in the commercial airplane market, I am having doubts they will exist much longer. The last few 747’s are being built now. The 777 and 787 lines have had their production rates cut. Plus the 787 is leaving Washington state, it will only be built in South Carolina beginning next year. The 767 will only last as long as the tanker program is going. The only real hope is with the 737 program and that is on shaky ground.

But the one thing I am looking forward to the most. Going to bed and getting up at a normal hour. 7:30 pm has been my bed time for years as has getting up at 3:30 am. Bring it on…

2

Congrats on the long career. Any word on what the 797 may mean for Boeing’s future a decade from now?

I heard that Boeing was a company that emphasized high quality, until it merged with McDonnell Douglas and suddenly a bunch of corporate folks from McDonnell began pushing profit over quality and that culture led to all sorts of shoddiness such as the Max, to the anger of many, is that true?

3

Boeings have carried me thousands of hours for millions of miles. Through untold good and occasionally bad situations. Always with grace, reliability, and style.

My career ending is a little farther out than yours, but may be no less ignominious; no way to know yet, but the omens aren’t good. The speed and size of the reversal of our industry’s fortune is probably unprecedented in human history.

Thank you. You @racer72 build a damn fine airplane. I’m proud to have had the privilege of flying them for so long and betting my butt day in and day out on your workmanship and that of your compatriots.

@LSLGuy
717, 727, 737, 757, 767 (so far)

4

Congratulations, and welcome to the other side @racer72. And congrats on a long career in the airplane biz. I retired from the military side last year, but spent a few years near you in the late 80’s. I was coding the 747-400’s hi lift stuff (slats and flaps). I believe that was Boeing’s first foray into digital flight controls and they were admirably thorough in design and testing. No direct experience like @LSLGuy, but my kiddo spends a lot of time flying your products with nothing but ocean for hours in any direction. Nothing but high praise from him for Boeing.

And yes, you should leave with your head held high, as none of the problems facing you, or us, are due to workers. Our entire country, whether politically and commercially, is declining due to the single root problem of incompetent leadership. Those of us in the trenches struggling to produce our best are in no way at fault.

I hope you end up enjoying it as much as possible, and (as I have) find some peace in being able to disengage from some of the turmoil of the world. Enjoy your time – you deserve it.

5

Congratulations on a long and productive career, one you can be proud of. You’ve indirectly touched the lives of millions of people, making sure they were safe in their personal and business travels. I felt sad as I read how this is ending for you. I wish you a long and contented retirement.

I retired a few years ago, and when I hear news and gossip about happenings in my career field locally, at first I feel an emotional tug (the firedog that hears the alarm bell), and usually several solutions pop into my head about how the current practitioners should handle (whatever)— and then I stop short, “Oh, I don’t have to care about that any more…” and I break into a smile. The immediate follow-up is, “And I don’t have to explain anything, justify it, convince others of it, or write a report on it!” And then I either roll over and go back to sleep or change the channel. :slightly_smiling_face:

6

As a native Seattleite, the first thing which comes to mind when I see Boeing, is, “If it’s not Boeing I’m not going.”

Enjoy your retirement, you’ve worked hard to earn it.

7

Congratulations on your imminent, if undesired retirement.

I started at McDonnell AC in 1966 and left Boeing in 2010. 44 years in all. I was in logistics and spent little time on the factory floor.

I hope your retirement is as pleasant as mine is.

8

Congrats on your retirement. Now is the time. I left my career on my own terms a couple of months before they would have pushed me. It is a good feeling to know that you are in control of your life when it mattered. Assuming that the current management recognizes where the failures were and what their past success was based on, Boeing will survive. Cutting costs to increase profits is NEVER a good strategy.

9

I am now officially retired. Now dealing with all the paperwork to start my pension and retiree health coverage. My official status with the company is now terminated, I thought Boeing could have used a nicer term for someone that took a voluntary layoff.

10

When do you fly out to the boneyard in Nevada?

:airplane: :nerd_face:

11

Corporate-speak is notoriously clumsy everywhere.

Congrats on all that. Understanding that it didn’t exactly end on the high note you might have wished for. Best of luck!

12

I personally don’t care. Part of the voluntary layoff is losing rehire rights. That means I can’t work for Boeing again unless I start out as a new hire. That will not happen. I have thoroughly enjoyed my first 5 days of being retired and they will only get better.

13

I noticed a sea-change on my last day as well. My “out-processing” went from friendly former co-workers to being escorted around by HR and Security. In a few hours, I went from an old-friend who will be missed, to a problematic stranger who needed investigated for company issued material, and escorted off the property ASAP. To his credit, my manager tried to stay with me the final few hours to try and mitigate some of this. He’d seen it before.

14

That sounds similar to the layoff I got (completely different industry) and I’m nowhere close to retirement age.

It was basically written that your ass is gone, this ain’t a temporary thing where you wait by the phone to be called back. But, you’re not being fired and if a new firm calls for employment verification, your status is eligible for rehire.

15

That’s probably good. You wouldn’t want to be ex-terminated.

16

Congrats on the retirement. I worked for Boeing (Boeing Computer Services) in Wichita from 1988 to 1993. Got caught up in the mass lay-offs going on then. There was about 100 of us in a big auditorium for a mass exit interview. I couldn’t wait for it to finish so I could go pick up plane tickets to fly out for an interview for a job that I got.

17

Congratulations Racer72!!! :heartbeat: :heartbeat: :heartbeat: :heartbeat:

I know it is a shitty way to go out, but you have earned a richly deserved retirement!

18

Welcome to the recently retired club. It’s the best.

19

One of us! One of us! I am approaching a year of retirement, and waking up whenever the hell I want has been one of the best parts.

I agree that wasn’t the best way to go out, though a voluntary retirement package can be a good sweetener. Based on your comments, hopefully not too much of your retirement pay is tied Boeing’s health.

Congratulations!

20

Unless you come back as a contractor. Or as we call them, scum-sucking job shoppers. We’ve had people go out the door as retirees and a month later back at their old desk as contract employees. Probably making more money. :slight_smile: