Spirit Aerosystems launches a new podcast to tell the story of the company and aviation in the United States.

Shop Chat

Spirit AeroSystems is the world’s largest manufacturer and supplier of aircraft components. After the company was sold by Boeing years ago and parts for airbus Spirit Aerosystems has agreed to a takeover with the US manufacturer. Boeing is taking over Spirit for around 4.7 billion dollars.

Photo: Spirit Aerosystems

Today, the company announced that it will launch an official podcast called “The Shop Floor.” The goal of the podcast is to highlight the company’s 20,000-plus employees and the history of American aviation. Joe Buccino, a company spokesperson, will serve as host.

“This podcast is unique in that it gives a voice to our workforce, our history, and our commercial and defense programs that are so important to the aerospace industry, passengers, and the United States and Europe. We not only tell the story of Spirit and the history of aviation in America, but also the individual stories of our teammates in manufacturing who keep the aviation industry running.”

The podcast will be available on August 27, one week from now, on platforms such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcasts and YouTube.

Latest news about Spirit Aerosystems

Patrick Shanahan, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Spirit Aerosystems, is entitled to a huge severance package if the merger between Boeing and Spirit goes ahead. As Simple Flying reported on August 13 Shanahan is set to receive $28.5 million. But Shanahan is not the only one receiving a bonus.

Shanahan’s bonus, if the merger goes through, is almost four times higher than the bonus of the next highest. Irene Esteves, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), is preparing to pocket $7.8 million. Three other executives are also expecting bonuses, according to an SEC filing.

Of the five executives receiving bonuses, Esteves would be the only one with a retention bonus and a welcome bonus. Esteves would only receive the $250,000 welcome bonus if she stayed with Spirit through April 1, 2025, or if the merger went through.

The filing also addressed the timing of the merger. Spirit wrote:

“Boeing management believes that potential reintegration would improve the safety and quality of Boeing airplanes by integrating Boeing and Spirit’s engineering, manufacturing, quality and safety programs and teams, and would promote supply chain stability and the opportunity to increase production rates.”

Spirit shareholders were required to vote on the merger during a special meeting, the date of which was not disclosed to the public. In addition to the shareholder vote, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) must approve the merger.

Last week, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg visited Spirit after assuming his new role. During the visit, Ortberg met with Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas and the company’s CEO. A more detailed report on the visit can be found here Here .