Details are quickly emerging regarding a meeting held between Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Jim Albaugh and company employees about the future of company product development, according to those present at the meeting. The meetings, which are held periodically are known inside the company as an “Excellence Hour” connects senior leadership with employees in a large auditorium setting.
12:31 PM ET: Those at the meeting say that Boeing aims to begin design additional upgrades on the existing 737 starting in 2012 and continues to see re-engining as hit to the value of the existing 737 fleet. No specific timeline for introduction was given, though Albaugh says he sees updates to the cockpit more in line with the 787, as well as further improvements to engine fuel efficiency.
12:37 PM ET: Albaugh says he sees a tanker decision from the Department of Defense in February, though adds (speculates) that political scrutiny on whatever the final decision is will push a final award in 2012. Update: Albaugh told the media Wednesday he anticipated an award announcement in March.
1:04 PM ET: Boeing 777 will be around for at least 15 years more, according to those at the meeting, signaling a medium term investment to improve the big twin. Additionally, Albaugh says he likes the idea of a blended wing body aircraft for a future Boeing jet, though he says the FAA is not keen to the idea and the funds required to make a major research and development investment aren’t really there to answer the unknowns on issues such as pressurization.
2:53 PM ET: Albaugh said future orders for the 747-8 are on hold as customers wait to see the outcome of the rework related to the inboard aileron and modal suppression.
While Boeing declined to discuss a formal timeline for starting development on further updates for the 737, the airframer says “incremental improvements are going to happen
to the 737 no matter what” not withstanding a decision to re-engining or a build a new airplane. Further, Boeing says the expectation is that technology will be shared across all its airplanes.
Though company did say that yesterday’s RBC report saying “most” of the top 25 737s do not want Boeing to re-engine the narrowbody, was “consistent with what we’re hearing from customers.”
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This post originally appeared at Flightglobal.com from 2007 to 2012.