Category Archives: Boeing

Analysts: Boeing, Airbus may have to cut narrowbody production next year

Oct. 5, 20092:23 p.m.

Boeing and Airbus are on track to build a record number of jets this year. But next year, that may change.

The planemakers may have to cut narrowbody airplane production by as much as 30 percent by 2011, according to aerospace analysts and consultants polled by Bloomberg. Boeing’s 737 and Airbus’s A320 contribute the majority of sales for the companies.

Boeing currently is producing 31 737s a month. Four respondents to the Bloomberg survey said they predicted Boeing to scale that back by at least 10 percent to 28 a month by 2011.

The planemakers still have order backlogs to carry them through the next seven years at current rates after they limited production increases to smooth out demand swings when the market was robust.

Changes to 737 production would impact Wichita’s Spirit AeroSystems, which produces the fuselage.

By Molly McMillin | Filed under Airbus, Boeing, Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Read the Air Force’s draft tanker proposal

Sept. 25, 200911:09 a.m.

If you have a huge cup of coffee and the time, you can read the Air Force’s Draft Request for Proposal document for its next aerial refueling tanker. The Air Force released the document today. You can read it here.

Your reading of it may not understandably be as thorough as the one Boeing and Northrop Grumman will do. Both are locked in a fierce competition to supply the Air Force’s next aerial refueler.

Boeing said today its next step is to perform a detailed review of the proposal.

“We want to understand how requirements will be defined and prioritized and how the proposals will be evaluated,” the company said today. It then will decide which plane to offer the Air Force — or whether to offer both the 767 and the larger 777.

On second thought, if you’re reading the entire document, you better put on a pot of coffee.

By Molly McMillin | Filed under Boeing | Comments (0)

Boeing names president of its Global Services and Support business

Sept. 23, 20099:53 a.m.

Boeing has a new leader of its Global Services and Support business, Anthony Parasida. Parasida replaces Dennis Muilenburg, who became president and CEO of Boeing’s Integrated Defense Systems after Jim Albaugh’s appointment as the head of Boeing’s commercial aircraft division.

Boeing Wichita operations report to the St. Louis-based division. The move is effective immediately, the company said.

Parasida had been vice president and general manager for Airborne Anti-Submarine Warfare & Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems with Boeing Military Aircraft.

By Molly McMillin | Filed under Boeing, aircraft manufacturers | Comments (0)

Virgin Blue in talks to buy $3.5 billion in Boeing planes

Sept. 17, 200910:52 a.m.

Australian airline, Virgin Blue Holdings, is in talks to buy $3.5 billion in Boeing airliners, the Australian Financial Review said.

Virgin needs to replace planes that will come off lease, the report said.  It plans to buy 35 and 50 aircraft as leases of 25 Boeing 737s expire.

By Molly McMillin | Filed under Boeing | Comments (0)

Boeing’s Airborne Laser completes first flight test against target missile

Sept. 11, 200910:15 a.m.

Boeing’s heavily modified 747-400F aircraft used in its Airborne Laser program successfully completed its first in-flight test against an instrumented target missile, marking a major milestone for the program, officials said.

The plane was modified at Boeing Wichita. The aircraft is designed to shoot down ballistic missiles while they’re in their boost stage and sending them back down on the enemies who launched them.

Pointing and focusing a laser beam on a target that’s skyrocketing at thousands of miles an hour is no easy task, Boeing’s vice president and airborne laser program director Michael Rinn said in a statement. “But the Airborne Laser is uniquely able to do the job.”

Boeing describes the test: The aircraft took off from Edwards Air Force Base and used its infrared sensors to find a target missile launched from San Nicolas Island, Calif. The battle management system on board issued engagement and target location instructions to the beam and fire control system, which found the target and fired two lasers to track the target and measure atmospheric conditions. It then fired a surrogate high-energy laser at the target, simulating a missile intercept. Instrumentation found that th e laser hit the target.

Later this year, the team will test the entire weapon system against in-flight missiles, culminating with the plane’s first high-energy laser intercept test against a ballistic missile.

Boeing is the prime contractor and overall systems integrator on the program. It provides the aircraft and battle management system. Northrop Grumman supplies the high-energy laser, and Lockheed Martin provides the beam control and fire control system.

By Molly McMillin | Filed under Boeing | Comments (0)

In a memo, Boeing’s Albaugh says priority is to win tanker contest

Sept. 9, 20093:44 p.m.

Boeing’s new head of its commercial aircraft division, Jim Albaugh, sent a note to employees today.

In it, Albaugh describes his priorities as three-fold: delivering on the 787 and the 747-8 programs and winning the aerial refueling tanker competition being conducted by the U.S. Air Force. Boeing is locked in competition with Northrop Grumman for a bid to replace the Air Force’s aging tankers.

On the tanker program, Boeing has the opportunity to capture orders for upward for 400 airplanes and their long-term support, he wrote. “This is the kind of franchise program that comes along only once every several decades, and Boeing is uniquely qualified to win it.”

The 787 and 747-8 are both “game changers and will give our customers the kind of efficiency necessary where cost and environmental considerations are so important,” he said in the note.

Although he’s met face to face with only a few of Boeing’s 787 customers, it’s clear that the late delivery of the 787 and 747-8 have affected customers, he said. But, Albaugh said, “they continue to be great partners who want to continue to work with us.”

By Molly McMillin | Filed under Boeing, Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Boeing’s commercial aircraft president Scott Carson to retire

Aug. 31, 20095:10 p.m.

Boeing announced the retirement of Scott Carson, president and CEO of its commercial aircraft division. Jim Albaugh, head of Boeing’s Integrated Defense Systems, will assume the role.

Carson sent a memo to employees today announcing his decision. The test is below:

An incredible journey

Today I am announcing my retirement from Boeing, effective at the end of the year. For me this is the end of a journey that began nearly 41 years ago when I joined Boeing for the first time. It has been an incredible journey. I have seen many changes but the constant throughout has been the amazing people of Boeing who believe so deeply in what we do, and are so proud of the products and services we provide our customers.

My decision is tied to many factors, but perhaps the most important reason for me was resetting the schedule on the 787. With this baseline in place the new leader will have a clear path forward. Tomorrow Jim Albaugh will assume the reins here at Commercial Airplanes. I have worked with Jim over the past 12 years and know him to be a strong and focused leader. Between now and the end of the year, I will help Jim as needed in the transition and assist on special projects for the company.

It has been my honor and privilege to work with each and every one of you over the past three years in my present capacity, and before that in the Sales organization. Throughout my career I have treasured the rewarding experience of working with and serving our customers around the world. It has been one of the great highlights of my years with Boeing, and one that I will always remember.

Despite the current challenges facing our global economy and the industry, I remain confident in the future. I also know that you will give Jim the same outstanding support and world-class effort that you have demonstrated to me over the past three years. I wish you every success and thank you from the bottom of my heart for the journey we have taken together.

Sincerely,

Scott Carson

By Molly McMillin | Filed under Boeing, Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Boeing seeks permit to open 787 line in South Carolina

Aug. 26, 200910:49 a.m.

Boeing will apply for a building permit to add a 787 Dreamliner facility in South Carolina, according to Bloomberg.

The move is a procedural one as the  company considers its first commercial assembly line outside of Washington state.

“This does not mean we’ve decided to locate the second line there,” said Boeing spokesman Russ Young. “It’s strictly a procedural step.”

Boeing is considering Everett, Wash., Charleston, South Carolina and other locations for a 787 assembly line.

By Molly McMillin | Filed under Boeing | Comments (3)

Boeing Wichita executive aircraft general manager takes new position

Aug. 24, 20092:22 p.m.

chinookWICHITA — Boeing Wichita’s Leanne Caret has a big change ahead of her. Caret is leaving Wichita, where she’s served as general manager of the global transport and executive systems operations. She and her husband are moving to Philadelphia, where Caret will become vice president of Boeing’s Chinook helicopter program.

Caret joined Boeing Wichita two weeks after graduating from Kansas State University. She’s been there 21 years.

In her current role, she’s responsible for the VC-25 (commonly known as Air Force One),the  E-4, the C40 models, the C-32 and the E-6.   Caret leads an organization, however, that employs about 1,000 people at nine sites, including about 450 in Wichita.

Caret has been with Boeing Wichita 21 years. She will remain here for the next couple of months as she transitions to the new job. Boeing, meanwhile, has launched a search to fill her position. The company announced the change today.

Moving to Philadelphia will be a big change, Caret said. Her husband, a huge Nascar fan, has already searched out all the Nascar tracks within 100 miles of the city, Caret said with a laugh.

She’s looking forward to the new challenge. The Chinook H-47 helicopter “is really the backbone of the Army and so many of the services (and) for the actual soldier in the fight,” Caret said.

By Molly McMillin | Filed under Boeing | Comments (0)

Boeing unveils P-8A Poseidon for the U.S. Navy

July 31, 200911:33 a.m.

Boeing and the U.S. Navy unveiled the Navy’s newest maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, the P-8A Poseidon, at a ceremony in Renton, Wash.

The P-8A is a derivative of the Next Generation 737-800.

Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita builds the plane’s fuselage.

The P-8A is a long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft that’s capable of broad area, maritime operations.

The plane replaces the Navy’s P-3C Orion.

Formal flight testing will begin later this year. The Navy plans to buy 117 P-8As. Initial operational capability is plan

By Molly McMillin | Filed under Boeing | Comments (0)