Tag: FlightBlogger Archive

1:06 PM: South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford today issued the following statement on Boeing’s announcement that they will purchase Vought Aircraft Industries’ North Charleston facility:

“Boeing’s announcement today is a real testament to the dedicated work of our economic development teams at the state and local levels, and it’s also a testament to the workforce and business climate of South Carolina that a world-class company like this is choosing to expand its presence here,” Gov. Sanford said.

“This in many ways has been a project years in the making, and accordingly I would give credit to former Secretary of Commerce Bob Faith and his team for their pursuit of the original $560 million investment. In that same vein, I’d give real credit to Joe Taylor and his current team at Commerce for the way they’ve continued to cultivate this business relationship.”

“Our administration is equally committed to doing whatever we can to help Boeing succeed and grow in our state,” Gov. Sanford said.

12:42 PM: Statement from IAM District 751 President Tom Wroblewski in Response to Boeing’s Purchase of Vought Operations in South Carolina:

“The Machinists Union is encouraged to see Boeing take tighter control over the 787 airplane and their partners’ work packages. The Machinists Union and our members are committed to making this new airplane successful. Our focus remains on getting the 787 flying and certified, which will show this is where the plane needs to be built.

The success of the 787 will ultimately depend on the expertise of all Boeing employees in Puget Sound who are going above and beyond the call of duty. Every day Machinists Union leaders and our members are stepping forward and offering ideas to help get the program on track and applying their skills and expertise. Keep in mind the initial production of composite fuselage barrels was developed, perfected and built here before Boeing sent it to suppliers around the world.

Boeing has noted this is not a statement of where the second 787 line is going to be located. When that issue is discussed, we will do everything in our power to ensure that Puget Sound is at the top of the list and highlight all the advantages that have made this region the largest aerospace center and Boeing the premiere aircraft manufacturer in the world – one that other cities are trying to emulate. Currently, Machinists Union leaders are working closely on various fronts with business, community, labor and government leaders to unite to keep production of all Boeing aircraft in this state. It is an effort we will continue to pursue aggressively.”

12:40 PM: A quick first thought on this: If ever there was a clearer starting gun on the race to win the second 787 line, this is it. Boeing has signaled their willingness to invest outside of Puget Sound for aerostructure fabrication and integration. Boeing chose to cut out the middle man between itself and Vought’s supply chain, but the company could have just as easily seen the Charleston site divested to a more financially stable third party.

11:46 AM: Just completed a podcast with Addison Schonland and Scott Hamilton on the Boeing/Vought deal. We take a closer look at the deal and bore down on its potential implications for the placement of a second 787 final assembly line. Factors we discuss include the possible result of the USAF Tanker contract and local Washington politics.

11:30 AM: Flashback: Will Boeing Buy Out Vought on the 787? – December 11, 2007

A buy out of Vought makes the most sense moving forward. It would
eliminate the middle-man in what the Wall Street Journal called a “new
bureaucratic ladder.” This allows Boeing to more effectively work with
its global suppliers by retaking the reins on manufacture and assembly
of 787 structures.

Overall, this is not a rejection of the fundamental principles upon
which the 787 was built. Without Vought, the 787 is still very much an
aircraft program that has a global scope. Reassuming control which was
previously outsourced is not a rejection of outsourcing, it’s an
acknowledgment that good business is done with good partners – a tenet
which has never changed.

An amicable end to a tumultuous relationship allows Vought to walk
away from the 787 program with its financial house in order while
giving Boeing the best opportunity to meet the only goal that really
matters:

10:53 AM: Boeing announces completion of ZA001’s final gauntlet. The company says the tests lastest 18-hours and were completed on the evening of July 2nd. Anyone in Everett seeing 787 rolling around Paine Field this morning?

10:43 AM: Seattle Post-Intelligencer aerospace journalist/blogger Andrea James reports on statements from Washington Governor Chris Gregoire and Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson:

“Yesterday, I spoke with Scott Carson, who informed me of Boeing’s
decision to purchase the Vought facility in South Carolina,” Gov. Chris
Gregoire said Tuesday morning via an e-mailed statement. “I recognize
that this announcement underscores that Boeing wants to ensure that it
manufactures the 787 Dreamliner as efficiently as possible, thus they
have made the decision to buy Vought. In my conversation with Scott, he
assured that no decision has been made on a potential second line for
the 787, and that today’s announcement doesn’t have anything to do with
that. Washington state is proud to be home of the world’s best airplane
manufacturer and most skilled aerospace workforce.”

“Boeing’s announcement today of its purchase of Vought in South
Carolina gives Boeing greater assurance and predictability in the
production of the 787,” Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson said in a
statement. “This appears to be a critical step in reaching Boeing’s
priority of delivering the 787s to its customers. The 787 is assembled
in Everett by some of the world’s most skilled machinists – the
successful delivery of this aircraft is crucial.”

10:36 AM: Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporter Bob Cox spoke with Vought CEO Elmer Doty who discussed the sale of the North Charleston site to Boeing:

“At the end of the day, this is the best way to protect the company,
preserve our capability and set the company up for growth in the next
two or three years,” Doty said in an interview with the Star-Telegram.

10:18 AM: Scott Hamilton has some additional information on the future of the second 787 line. He says that there are four sites being considered for the second line, citing a source with “some knowledge of the situation.” Everett, WA, Charleston, SC, San Antonio, TX and an unknown fourth site, thought to be Long Beach, California.

9:46 AM: From Flight: Boeing confirms deal for Vought’s 787 role

8:53 AM: Statement from Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon:

“The Boeing Company’s purchase of the Vought facility and a significant portion of adjacent undeveloped property in South Carolina is clearly a bold business decision, and one which signals that Washington state is truly in a competition for the second line of the 787 and all future generations of commercial aircraft.

“We must do all that is necessary to permanently improve the competitive climate of Washington state and encourage the Boeing Company and their unions to work together to reestablish the effective and successful partnership that has made Boeing Commercial Airplanes a leader throughout the world.”

 8:15 AM: Boeing Announces Agreement to Acquire Vought Operations in South Carolina

SEATTLE, July 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Boeing (NYSE: BA)
announced today that it has agreed to acquire the business and
operations conducted by Vought Aircraft Industries at its South
Carolina facility, where Vought builds a key structure for Boeing’s 787
Dreamliner airplane.

The Vought facility, located in North Charleston, performs
fabrication and assembly of structures and systems installation of 787
aft fuselage sections, which are made primarily of composite materials.
After the transaction, Vought will continue its work on many Boeing
programs, including other components of the 787, as well as structures
and components on the 737, 747, 767, 777, C-17 and V-22 through
operations located elsewhere.

Sources in Charleston and Dallas indicate that an announcement of a Boeing acquisition of the Vought 787 operations is imminent. Glen Farley of KING5 (NBC Seattle) is also reporting that the announcement is expected as early as tomorrow. When an announcement does arrive, it is likely to come in the morning hours and is likely to occur anywhere between 8 AM and 10 AM ET.

Movie Monday is back and I was feeling inspired by my visit to the Air & Space Museum yesterday to provide another episode of Dogfights. This episode focuses on the “Dogfights of the Future” looking at new fifth generation platforms like the F-22 and F-35. In addition the show takes some creative liberties with the Su-47 or what may eventually be the Sukhoi PAK FA stealth fighter. The program gets even more creative with its view of Scramjet and space warfare, but it’s interesting nonetheless. The full program is available in nine parts total after the break.

Also, if you find great aviation videos online, feel free to pass them my way. I try to make sure Movie Monday runs between 20 to 60 minutes, and that’s really the only criteria along with the fact that they are embeddable.

787 Taxi Testing
ZA001 could roll out of Stall 105 as early as this evening in Everett under its own power for a slow lap around Paine Field. However, another source indicates that if you’re around KPAE first thing tomorrow, you may see something special. I’ll keep you posted as more information becomes available.

Backlogs Shmacklogs
Richard Aboulafia has this nasty habit of making a heck of a lot of
sense. Richard weighs in on the importance, or lack thereof, of the
backlogs held by Airbus and Boeing. His monthly newsletter, which can
typically be found on his website, is particularly illuminating. Here’s his  June edition. It’s absolutely worth a thorough read. Here’s the key quote:

If the backlog mattered at all, how would new orders be
even remotely consequential? Instead of orders, we need traffic, and
aside from show attendees, you weren’t going to find it at Le Bourget.
It’s a simple and timeless equation. When airlines make money, they
order planes. If they keep making money, they take delivery of those
planes.

Hello Australian Open Skies
Delta’s 777-200LR touched down in Sydney this morning from Los Angeles after flying across the pacific as DL17. The airline’s inaugural US-Australian service marks the second US carrier to enter the market in AGES and the fourth overall after following V Australia. I’m exceedingly curious to see what the DOT Form 41 data shows later this year with United’s 747-400 against Delta’s 777-200LR. Unfortunately, it only covers US airlines, because throwing the QANTAS A380 and the V Australia 777-300ER data would make for one heck of a comparison.

Methinks it will might be time for REAL a fleet renewal, United.

New 787 Tally
In case you were keeping count, Boeing holds 850 orders from 56 customers for 787. That includes the starting tally of 865, minus the 15 787-9s canceled by QANTAS. That number also includes the five previously unidentified 787-8s from ANA.

Facebook
I’m on Facebook! I’ve actually been on since 2004, but now I have a FlightBlogger-specific account. You can find me at: http://www.facebook.com/flightblogger. I need to get the profile up and running completely, but feel free to drop me a message over there if you’re so inclined.

A Sunday afternoon at the Udvar-Hazy Center, originally uploaded by flightblogger.

Aerospatiale-BAe Concorde F-BVFA

A few important tidbits to wrap up the week before heading into the holiday weekend here in the US. The first half of this week was certainly an interesting one and I took the opportunity during the latter half to catch up on a lot of non-blog items that had previously eluded me. I’ll be off until Monday celebrating Independence Day so this weekend will be a good chance to catch my breath.

Boeing is set to announce its intention to acquire the 787 operations currently run by Vought Aircraft Industries in North Charleston, SC in a major shake up of the supply chain for its new flagship product.

According to multiple sources familiar with the plan, Vought Aircraft Industries 787 arm is to be divested from parent company The Carlyle Group and sold to The Boeing Company.

“It’s a done deal,” says a source close to the agreement.

The same sources indicate that the sale of the Charleston 787 operations unit, known as the Advanced Aerosolutions (AAD) branch of Dallas-based Vought, will likely be the first key step to establishing a second production site for the mid-size widebody aircraft.

Both Boeing and Vought are adhering to their respective policies to not comment on rumors or speculation regarding mergers and acquisitions.

However, Boeing added that it has “long said that a second line is an issue we will consider in due course, and we have, and will continue to evaluate the many factors that will be a part of any decision. Our primary focus right now is getting the 787 into flight test and getting the existing production system running smoothly.”

Boeing announced last week that a delay in first flight was necessary to reinforce the side-of-body of the 787, indefinitely grounding the fleet until the company can develop, test and install a remedial modification.

INSIDE:

• What’s Next?
• The Campus
• A Second 787 Line?
• Protecting The Supply Chain

Summer in DC, originally uploaded by flightblogger.

Continental 737-700 on Potomac final approach to DCA.

Consider this a bit of catch up over the last several weeks on 747-8 progress. I wanted to bring you the latest on what’s going on with the first 747-8 Freighter – RC501 – coming together in Everett right now.

Last this page left the new jumbo jet, the forward fuselage was making the trip on May 17th from Building 40-23 back over to 40-21/22 for sealing and testing.

When the first stub join was completed, the wings were “flown” from the join position to the seal on the afternoon of June 7th. The crane, actually two cranes, that lifted the wings represented a record for Boeing after more than 40 years of 747 production. According to one source, the two cranes lifted 149,300 lbs. before placing the wings into the seal area.
 
Eleven days later, Boeing had the second set of wings in the stub join area. Which brings us to last week when the bonnet Section 44 was lowered into position over the center wing box on June 25th to begin the wing-to-body join.

Next will be the final body join that will see the wings flying to the next assembly position for mating to the forward and aft fuselage sections by the end of August or so, says Boeing.

Program sources also indicate that two of four General Electric GEnx-2B
engines have been delivered to final assembly. Final certification of
the engine is expected to happen around October. Finally, the blended raked winglets will be added once the aircraft is moved to the slant position at the head of Building 40-22 because the wings would be wider than the join area!

Photo Credit Boeing