'Thelma And Louise'

Traditionally, attendees of the Aerospace Industries Association's annual year-end luncheon are treated to a detailed overview of aerospace and defense revenues for the past year as well as a projection of the upcoming one.

That wasn't the case this time.

AIA President and CEO Marion Blakey devoted most of her speech to the looming threat of sequestration, warning that the aerospace and defense industry is "getting closer to a 'Thelma and Louise' moment, when we careen off into the void."

Blakey added that "the time for real work, real negotiation and a real solution" to sequestration "is now."