Southern California: Aerospace Capital of the World

[bhcompy]

Originally Posted by Charles

My wife and I got to view it from the VIP area at KSC. Dick Cheney's wife was there. It is three miles from the pad. It's as close as anybody other than emergency crews can view it. It is pretty interesting watching the shuttle lift off and 15 seconds later the sound sound hits you.

I was able to see a launch there when I was 10 years old. First Endeavor launch shooting up a satellite my grandmother helped build. Was an awesome experience.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by cricket_factor

People on the SSME program here go all the time to see a launch there.

The company I worked for had some sort of program to honor outstanding employees, Space Launch Honoree or something like that. The company pays for the whole thing for the employee and his spouse, lodging at the Resort at the Port Canaveral, transportation, two open bars, two open desert bars, the works. They catch a bus from the hotel to the VIP area at KSC.

Well, (I didn't receive that honor) but I had a cousin in Orlando and I had two free Southwest Airlines tickets so I called my company and asked them if I provided my own transportation and lodging could I hop on the bus. They made a few phone calls and told me, sure they would get the necessary credentials (I already had a KSC badge) for my wife and me. It was great.

Try it.

[Charles]

"Southern California was at the center of this huge technological leap. The rocket that would get us to the moon was composed of three parts, or stages. North American Aviation in Seal Beach built the second stage -- plus the astronauts' command module, scaling up its Downey plant to 25,000 employees to do so. Douglas Aircraft in Huntington Beach made the third stage."

from

'One small step' for man, one massive rocket project for engineers - Los Angeles Times

Apollo program in Southern California - Apollo test - Los Angeles Times


For all you Rocketdyners, past and present:

Rocketdyne's role in the Space Race - Rocketdyne retired engineers - Los Angeles Times


I've mentioned this before but this book below is an absolutely fascinating story of the early Apollo program in Southern California:

Amazon.com: Angle of Attack: Harrison Storms and the Race to the Moon: Mike Gray: Books



The North American plant in Downey where a lot of this stuff happened:


Moderator cut: Photo courtesy of NASA

[jet757f]

I was between jobs in the 1980s. I got a job with Martin Marrieta at Vandenburg AFB building the Shuttle West Coast Launch facility.
I used to commute up to Santa Maria (stayed with my grandparents for the week) from the LA area. Not too long after the Challenger accident they decided not to go through with the west coast launches.

I also worked at Lockheed Burbank in the early 80s which was a very busy facility P3 line and other aircraft being built. Now that facility is gone.

How things change over the years.

[Charles]

"[Southern California] Aerospace could shrivel if the Defense Department cuts funding for Boeing's C-17 cargo aircraft program and commercial air travel continues to lag."

from

No recovery in California until 2011, forecast says - Los Angeles Times

Boeing job cuts hit missile defense, future combat | Markets | Hot Stocks | Reuters

The Associated Press: Army stops work on Boeing's manned ground vehicles

Boeing layoffs worry some in Huntsville - WAFF.com: North Alabama News, Radar, Weather, Sports and Jobs-

Boeing to cut 1,000 defense jobs - Los Angeles Business from bizjournals:

""The decision to terminate the line . . . cannot be easily reversed, and could cost Southern California thousands of high-paying jobs," he said.

Lockheed Martin has said that about a third of the F-22's suppliers are in California, providing as many as 6,500 jobs. "

from

Senate votes to stop making more F-22 Raptor fighter jets - Los Angeles Times

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by Charles

"[Southern California] Aerospace could shrivel if the Defense Department cuts funding for Boeing's C-17 cargo aircraft program and commercial air travel continues to lag."

Interesting... I was wondering what the net effect would be for Boeing, Northrop and Lockheed. I know NG and Boeing have won some new contracts. So I am not sure if the deplaced workers from the C-17 will move into some of the newer contracts or be layed off. And the answer may end up being one that is harder to track down. Some workers have trasferable skills while others may not. Then there is the question of whether they are given options to relocate if there is nothing local for them. And they may decide they would rather change companies than relocate. Maybe they are close to retirement and not ready to pick up, sell a house and go somewhere else.

It is also a question of shifting of Gov't resources and professional skills which match these new opportunites. For example we have a young man we interviewed for a Data Analyst position. But he has a degree in aeronautical engineering and some experience in that field. Yet he is having a hard time finding work in aeronautics after a program he was working on was cut. So he is basically looking to widen the scope of his experience and skillset to include other technologies. He is young and understands that in this economy it is important to be have a wide range of experiences. But others may not want to diversify.

Derek

[Charles]

Originally Posted by MtnSurfer

For example we have a young man we interviewed for a Data Analyst position. But he has a degree in aeronautical engineering and some experience in that field.

The first thing I thought of when I read this is, Why with an oversupply of labor (data analysts) would your company consider hiring outside the skill code for the position? I would think there would be ten guys with a lot more key, applicable experience applying for that data analyst position.

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by Charles

The first thing I thought of when I read this is, Why with an oversupply of labor (data analysts) would your company consider hiring outside the skill code for the position? I would think there would be ten guys with a lot more key, applicable experience applying for that data analyst position.

Maybe because it is entry level to a few years of experience.

But basically we post the position and anyone is able to apply. I think it does go only internally for a limited time. But after that it is open to anyone with relavant experience. So if there was an oversupply then you would think we would be getting a lot more of these applicants. But instead we are getting a wild range of non related to slightly related skillsets. I guess it can't be that bad yet for ppl with in demand skills.

Derek

[_Charles_]

Southern Californina is golden for aerospace. I say this as an aerospace employee.