A New Look at Hawker Aircraft

 

Hawker Aircraft Limited is a private British aerospace company known for some of the world's most famous avionic products. It is also regarded as the builder of some of the world's first truly state-of-the-art military aircraft. Hawker Aircraft is currently engaged in manufacturing and selling a wide variety of military aircraft, both jets and combat helicopters. In addition to its military business, the company continues to develop and manufacture commercial and military aircraft and helicopters. Hawker is one of the biggest producer of military and commercial jetliner programs in the world. Today, it is the United Kingdom's largest defense contractor.

Hawker Aircraft Limited is headquartered in Wichita, Kansas. It manufactures and markets a wide range of jet fighters and support aircraft, including tankers, trainers, transport aircraft, cargo aircraft, and commuter planes. The company produces a variety of Hawker models, including the Hawker 800 XP, Hawker Hunter, Hawker 800 MP, and Hawker 900 XP, among other models. The company has been producing Hawkers since 1960.

A recent article by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) indicated that the company had applied for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to its inability to generate growth in recent years. The article stated that the company's stockholders were unhappy with the company's management and believed that the management was attempting to "cook the books so they don't fall behind." Consequently, the company announced that it would hire an outside CFO to assist it in streamlining its operations and improve its cash flow. Additionally, the company announced that it had signed an agreement with aviation fuel giant Shell to provide its aviation fuel products. Самолеты Dassault

A February 13th article by the Los Angeles Times reported that the company "made a slightly bigger move toward bankruptcy protection, agreeing to buy smaller but more profitable aerospace manufacturing." The article went on to state that the company is "still exploring options for moving beyond its fighter jet program" and that it expected to finalize its CFO in the second half of February. It is unclear at this time what the new CEO will be. The company's current CFO, Robert Davis, is expected to retire on February 28th. No replacement has been named.

On a more positive note, the company announced that its interim CFO, John Grace, will serve as interim CEO for six months beginning on July 10th. Mr. Grace will serve as a senior vice president and COO. The company noted, "Mr. Grace has held successful positions in both the private and public sectors." Incidentally, both he and Mr. Davis have held similar positions within the cockpit of Hawker Aircraft since both began with the company in 1960. Mr. Davis served as a director of Hawker Aircraft since its formation, while Mr. Grace was a director of the British aeronautics firm Easy Jet until its acquisition by Hawker in 1960.

In conclusion, I believe that the company has made a solid move in being open about their plans for their future, especially in light of the recent bankruptcy and turmoil. The fact that they are now open about their business and financial situation is a positive sign and a major step in the right direction for the company and its jet production program. If they can successfully combine their business model and develop a strong management team, then they have a real opportunity to return to the growth and profitability they enjoyed prior to their bankruptcy. Only time will tell if they can pull it off, but my opinion is that it is very possible.