A bit of followup on parts of this. A story in this Fridays (2/10/12) Everett HERALD says that Boeing has indeed bought out ATS' Hgr. 3. ATS moved it's component overhaul facility to the old GOODRICH landing gear building across Hwy 526 from the Boeing Everett Plant. The balance of the story was the usual 'we will recover from this and be back' YADDA-YADDA, BULL F ROGS!!!!! this is auctioning off the farm.
When ATS bought BADWRENCH several years ago I wondered why an Australian Bank/aircraft leasing company would buy an MRO 14000 miles from home, only one real reason, split it up and sell off the risky parts. My guess of a 5 year plan was off by a couple of years, when Boeing leased Hgr. 3 for 787 rework my curiosity level went up, and when Boeing announced they were going to do all phases of the KC-46A in Washington State I knew what was coming next. So ATS keeps (for awhile) the lowest risk component overhaul business, and dumps the tinwork parts, we are watching 42+ years of struggle, effort, guts, 'can do, no sweat', and blood thrown out with the bath water. I would hazard a guess that FHC/VULCAN has already made an offer on Hgr 1.
If you are or were, or know someone who was a TRAMCONIAN, pass this info along as the ship is settling by the stern.As much animosity as I have for BADWRENCH, right now I feel like Dana Andrews in that field in Ontario Ca. in 'Best Years of our Lives', walking amongst the ghosts of yesterday.
