I know the point you are making here, by attempting to carefully skirt around it.
You are of the opinion that in the halcyon days of the first half of the 20th century, the pioneers of aviation and space flight were men's men with balls of steel, who clutched a bald Eagle in one hand, a copy of the King James Bible in the other, and chomped on a cigar, whilst launching into the air on either a bicycle with wings, or a phallic shaped rocket carrying tonnes of explosive material.
What, you would like to believe has gone wrong with companies like Boeing, is that their workforce is made up of 'nancy boys' like Joe, who wants to be called Josephine. Joe fits window seals, but doesn't do it properly because he fears breaking a nail. Or lesbian metal worker Hilary, who loves animals and eating tofu. She once had a bad day machining door pillars, because she was angry at the lack of vegan options on the staff canteen menu.
In truth, it's nonsense. You seem to think the aviation has been stagnant or gone backwards in the last 55 years. In fact, modern employees, who have 'feelings' have made the aviation industry the safest form of mass travel. Safety records have improved every decade since the 1950's. In 1969 air travel was for the privileged few. Now, in the developed world its available to almost everyone.
Customers today have high standards, and rightfully so. I do think in part a media frenzy is gunning for Boeing, but they don't help themselves, and have serious issues.
Comparing to Airbus, Boeing are being outperformed by a company that is largely government owned, where employees have far greater rights around their working contract, more rights around discipline and firing, decent paid annual leave, statutory sick pay, paid paternity leave, longer maternity leave. Also, stronger unions and work councils enshrined in law, where employees can raise concerns with senior management.
This is what thinking about people's feelings looks like in a work environment, and it appears to be successful.
Boeing, has spent vast sums of money lobbying government to reduce safety regulations and red tape for a competitive advantage, and its worryingly cosy relationship with the regulators is the result. Bean counters sought these changes to line the pockets of shareholders.
If you think a return to the spirit of those tough grizzled aviation pioneers, for whom education was the experience of the school of hard knocks, or a back handed slap to the chops, is going to improve Boeings fortunes then think again!
