Our best photos from 2014
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SUNDAY, 12.28.2014
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EVERETT, WASHINGTON
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Boeing bullish on 777
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OUTLOOK FOR 2015
Analysts say production rate will be hard to sustain in the face of competition from Airbus and even Boeing’s own 777X By Dan Catchpole Herald Writer
EVERETT — As the calendar closes out on 2014, the Boeing Co.’s top salesman is as optimistic as ever about being able to keep 777 production going at its current rate at least until airlines start flying its successor, the 777X, early next decade. To keep the Everett plant’s 777 assembly line humming, Boeing has a short amount of time to get a lot of orders for big airplanes that have declining relative value for customers. The company needs to get 40 to 60 orders a year to close the production gap, said Randy Tinseth, vice-president of marketing at Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Boeing got about 60 777 orders this year. “We’re pretty much where we’d like to be for the year,” he said. But many aerospace analysts say that Boeing can’t sustain the current 777 production rate of 8.3 airplanes a month — about 100 a year. The 777 has for many years dominated long-haul air routes virtually unopposed, and Boeing has charged a premium for the airplane. But that is changing. Airbus on Monday delivered the first A350 to Qatar Airways. See BOEING, Page A2
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GENNA MARTIN / THE HERALD
The 43 trees that were planted along SR-530 this fall for each victim of the Oso mudslide are decorated for Christmas with ornaments, tinsel and names. This tree was planted for Steven Hadaway.
Looking back, moving ahead Tragic events this year will continue to shape, but not define new year By Jerry Cornfield Herald Writer
This year began with a buzz when Boeing chose Everett as the place where it would build its next generation jetliner. But it will end as one forever seared by sadness of two devastating events: the mudslide in Oso and shooting at Marysville Pilchuck High School. In 2015, developments in the manufacturing of the 777X airplane and the rebuilding of lives changed by those tragedies will continue to absorb our and the state’s attention. Other headlines will emerge as the private sector looks to continue its rebound from the Great Recession and political leaders confront a demand for public services that outstrips the dollars available to pay for them. Taxes will be a constant
subject of conversation. Several cities and the county hiked taxes late this year to balance their budgets and may need to do so again before the end of 2015. Same goes for the state. Gov. Jay Inslee, who as a candidate in 2012 opposed new taxes, is now pressing lawmakers to approve big ones to raise billions of dollars for public schools and transportation.
Recovery and rebuilding It will be an emotional year for the families and the communities marred by tragedy. Anniversaries will be held to mark the March 22 landslide that claimed 43 lives and the Oct. 24 shooting in which five teenagers died. And there will be heartrending conversations on what, if any, memorials to erect for both.
In the Stillaguamish Valley, the focus on recovery will range from helping businesses flourish to starting a community garden and attempting to get the last 14 miles of the Mountain Loop paved. The county-imposed moratorium on building new structures in the slide zone will remain in force as policymakers ponder new land-use rules for landslide hazard areas. And lawsuits brought on behalf of 12 families affected by the slide through death and property loss should begin to wend their way through the legal channels. Meanwhile, lawmakers and Inslee are united in responding to lessons learned from the catastrophic slide. A report issued by an independent commission will provide them a template for improving the understanding of
Lawmakers and Inslee are united in responding to lessons learned from the catastrophic Oso slide.
See AHEAD, Page A7
Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . .B6 Viewpoints . . . . . . . . . . . . .B7
HERALD HEALTH
ALL ABOUT ADVENTURE
GAS TAX MYTHS
Special coverage focusing on a fitter, healthier you in 2015. Good Life, D1
Aim high with your 2015 goals. Outdoors, D7
Misunderstandings are clouding the debate. Viewpoints, B7
Be cool 41/31, C10
SUNDAY
VOL. 114, NO. 321 © 2014 THE DAILY HERALD CO.
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