Even Less Gloom?

Bass is a bean-counter, NOT a skilled public speaker

Why do you say he's a bean-counter? Does he have an accountancy
background, as opposed to the engineering one that Mr Boykin cites. Or
do you simply assume that anyone running a corporation must be a bean-
counter?

Although he is an engineer, Mr. Bass' background at Sony Corp. and
General Electric is managerial. It is well known that he was brought
into Piper to "slash & burn" in order to save the company.

From my corporate days in the newspaper world, we had a name for guys
like him: "hit man". These guys are brought in to do whatever it
takes to save the company, and bad things happen in his wake. (If
you're an employee; if you're an investor, he's a savior.)

Mind you, I'm not averse to ANY of this. I fully understand what it
means to run a company, and that Piper needed to be saved. If
building bizjets (or microwave ovens, for that matter) is the way out
of bankruptcy, so be it.

But then don't come to a gathering of piston single owners (I.E.: The
Cherokee Pilots Association annual convention), and trumpet the fact
that we attendees are no longer "Job One" in the company. It was in
poor taste, and made a lot of people angry -- which I'm sure was NOT
the impression Bass (or Dennis Boykin) wanted.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay,

and that Piper needed to be saved


They have been?

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

On Jun 22, 10:19 am, Jay Honeck wrote:

Although he is an engineer, Mr. Bass' background at Sony
Corp. and General Electric is managerial. It is well known
that he was brought into Piper to "slash & burn" in order
to save the company.

First, you're not going to find anyone running a company like that
without some managerial background, so by that token, anyone running a
company large enough to require such experience is a bean counter,
which seems to devalue the term somewhat. Second, while it may be well
known, can you produce some cites to support the assertion that he's a
hatchet man?

In article . com,
Jay Honeck wrote:
Although he is an engineer, Mr. Bass' background at Sony Corp. and
General Electric is managerial. It is well known that he was brought
into Piper to "slash & burn" in order to save the company.

I don't know that he's "slashing & burning," but it appears that for the
first time in years (decades?) Piper may actually have a direction that
doesn't lead to bankruptcy. It should be clear to everyone that the
status quo of building the same 30 year old piston designs year after
year isn't going to cut it.

It also appears that Mr. Bass has fostered good will with those whom he
leads. That is not a typical characteristic of a "slash & burn"
executive.


JKG

Jonathan Goodish wrote:
In article . com,
Jay Honeck wrote:
Although he is an engineer, Mr. Bass' background at Sony Corp. and
General Electric is managerial. It is well known that he was brought
into Piper to "slash & burn" in order to save the company.

I don't know that he's "slashing & burning," but it appears that for
the first time in years (decades?) Piper may actually have a
direction that doesn't lead to bankruptcy. It should be clear to
everyone that the status quo of building the same 30 year old piston
designs year after year isn't going to cut it.

It also appears that Mr. Bass has fostered good will with those whom
he leads. That is not a typical characteristic of a "slash & burn"
executive.


JKG

I don't see how basing their future on a VLJ that will just be one among
many in a yet unproven market is a good idea.

In article ,
"Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net wrote:
It also appears that Mr. Bass has fostered good will with those whom
he leads. That is not a typical characteristic of a "slash & burn"
executive.


JKG

I don't see how basing their future on a VLJ that will just be one among
many in a yet unproven market is a good idea.

There is significant interest and demand already in the small jet/VLJ.
With the innovation happening in the industry, no one can wait until the
market is "proven," for by that time it will be too late. That's the
huge problem with the piston business--Piper missed the boat big-time
years ago.



JKG

Jonathan Goodish wrote:
In article ,
"Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net wrote:
It also appears that Mr. Bass has fostered good will with those whom
he leads. That is not a typical characteristic of a "slash & burn"
executive.


JKG

I don't see how basing their future on a VLJ that will just be one
among many in a yet unproven market is a good idea.

There is significant interest and demand already in the small jet/VLJ.
With the innovation happening in the industry, no one can wait until
the market is "proven," for by that time it will be too late. That's
the huge problem with the piston business--Piper missed the boat big-
time years ago.



JKG

The problem with the interest and demand for the VLJ market is that a
significant portion of it comes from yet another unproven market, on demand
air taxi.

"Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net wrote in message
...
Jonathan Goodish wrote:
In article ,
"Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net wrote:
It also appears that Mr. Bass has fostered good will with those whom
he leads. That is not a typical characteristic of a "slash & burn"
executive.


JKG

I don't see how basing their future on a VLJ that will just be one
among many in a yet unproven market is a good idea.

There is significant interest and demand already in the small jet/VLJ.
With the innovation happening in the industry, no one can wait until
the market is "proven," for by that time it will be too late. That's
the huge problem with the piston business--Piper missed the boat big-
time years ago.



JKG

The problem with the interest and demand for the VLJ market is that a
significant portion of it comes from yet another unproven market, on
demand air taxi.

And in 1981, PC's were an "unproven market" :~)

Hell, in the early 60's, COMPUTERS were un "unproven market".

The biggest impediment to Air Taxi, so far, has been scheduling and
logistics. You might dig into Google to find the computer models that are
comoing out to provide such logistical support information.

Most any successful market is CREATED, it just doesn't wander into
existance. Is there a _demand_ for "Air Taxi"? Preliminary feedback show
there certainly is.

It also appears that Mr. Bass has fostered good will with those whom he
leads. That is not a typical characteristic of a "slash & burn"
executive.

Yes, Mr. Bass spent much of his speech telling us how wonderful his
labor relations were now, even to the point of breaking the union.
(They supposedly voted themselves out of existence, because they are
now so happy.)

In the very next segment of his speech, however, he complained about
the absurdly high cost of doing business in Florida (thanks to those
pesky hurricanes) -- and made it quite clear that he was willing (and
planning) to move Piper, lock, stock, and barrel, to whatever state
offered him the most "incentives". (AKA: "Bribes")

Now, you tell me how his wonderful labor relations skills jibe with
the fact that he is willing to rip all 1100 jobs out from under his
employees, and move the company to Mississippi, if they pay him the
most money?

Even *I* was appalled -- and remember, I'm writing this as a
conservative Republican, who (a) doesn't believe in unions, and (b)
believes that customers -- not employees -- come first.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:
It also appears that Mr. Bass has fostered good will with those whom he
leads. That is not a typical characteristic of a "slash & burn"
executive.

Yes, Mr. Bass spent much of his speech telling us how wonderful his
labor relations were now, even to the point of breaking the union.
(They supposedly voted themselves out of existence, because they are
now so happy.)

In the very next segment of his speech, however, he complained about
the absurdly high cost of doing business in Florida (thanks to those
pesky hurricanes) -- and made it quite clear that he was willing (and
planning) to move Piper, lock, stock, and barrel, to whatever state
offered him the most "incentives". (AKA: "Bribes")

Now, you tell me how his wonderful labor relations skills jibe with
the fact that he is willing to rip all 1100 jobs out from under his
employees, and move the company to Mississippi, if they pay him the
most money?

It is very simple. A company that is constantly teetering on bankruptcy
or, worse yet as with Piper, continually into and out of bankruptcy,
isn't all that nice to employees. Moving the company to a place with a
better business environment that allows a more stable and profitable
company is better for all concerned in the long run. Sure, it is
painful for those currently at Piper who don't wish to move, but in the
long run it is best for company, employees AND customers.

I think Lock Haven would be a nice location for Piper! :-)

Matt