Category Archives: Spirit AeroSystems

Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems facilities in Oklahoma not damaged by tornado

May 20, 20135:05 p.m.

Employees at Boeing’s Oklahoma City offices took shelter during the time a massive tornado hit Moore, Okla., about a 20 minute drive away.

Everyone was safe, said Boeing’s Oklahoma City spokeswoman Jennifer Hogan.

The offices have not been damaged.

There’s no word yet on whether any Boeing employees’ homes  have been hit, however.

About 100 employees live in the Moore area. It’s not known how many of them are transfers from Boeing’s Wichita facility, said Boeing spokeswoman Michelle Nalley.

Spirit AeroSystems’ plants in McAlester and Tulsa, Okla., have not been hit, said Spirit spokesman Ken Evans.

“Our thoughts are with those who are working and those who have homes in that area,” Evans said.

He doesn’t know whether any employees’ homes were damaged, he said.

“We’re wanting to make sure everybody is going to be safe,” Evans said. “Safety is our No. 1 priority.”

 

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, aviation industry, Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems | Comments

Spirit AeroSystems recognizes seven suppliers as “Platinum Suppliers”

May 15, 201310:02 a.m.

Quality, cost and on-time delivery counts.

Spirit AeroSystems recognized seven of its suppliers, including five in the Wichita area, as Platinum Suppliers of 2012.

The suppliers were selected based on their performance last year as it relates to quality, on-time delivery, commitment to cost reductions and willingness to partner with Spirit for overall improvement in value to the company, Spirit said.

“In today’s aerospace environment, it is increasingly important to seek suppliers that provide the best total value for cost, quality and delivery,” Rob Mattinson, Spirit vice president of corporate supply chain management and global strategy, said in a statement.

The suppliers honored include:

Dynamic NC, Udall

Globe Engineering Co., Wichita

Labinal Services, Wichita office

Logistics Resources, Wichita

ZTM, Wichita

All Metal Services, London

M. Torres, Pamplona, Spain

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, aviation industry, Spirit AeroSystems | Comments

Spirit AeroSystems executives Mike King and Buck Buchanan to retire

April 9, 201310:43 a.m.

Two key Spirit AeroSystems executives plan to retire this summer.

Spirit executive vice president and chief operations officer Mike King and senior vice president of advanced projects Buck Buchanan have announced their plans to retire.

Both will remain with Spirit until their retirement dates, which are yet to be determined. Their successors have not been selected as well, said Spirit spokesman Ken Evans.

King and Buchanan both started working for Boeing Wichita in 1980, then joined Spirit after Boeing sold its Wichita commercial aircraft division in 2005, forming the stand-alone company.

 

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, Spirit AeroSystems | Comments

Boeing praises suppliers on its 737 as it delivers 7,500th jet

March 26, 201311:33 a.m.

Boeing is praising the role its suppliers play in the production of its popular 737 single-aisle jetliner, as it celebrates delivery of its 7,500th plane.

The Next Generation 737 contains about 400,000 parts per airplane built by 325 suppliers in 30 countries.

U.S. suppliers come from 41 states and Puerto Rico.

That includes the 737′s largest supplier, Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita. Spirit builds the plane’s fuselage, pylons and thrust reversers.

It also builds wing components at its Tulsa facility.

Spirit ships the fuselages by rail to Renton, Wash., for completion.

“The success of the 737 shows what is possible when we partner with the world’s best aerospace companies,” Kent Fisher, Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president and general manager, said in a statement. “Our long-term competitiveness in the marketplace depends on a continued focus on quality, reliability and affordability.”

Boeing has projected demand for single-aisle airplanes over the next 20 years to total 23,240 jets valued at $2 trillion.

The company is increasing 737 production rates from 38 planes a month to 42 a month in the first half of 2014.

The 7,500th 737 to come off of the production line was delivered to Malindo Air in Malaysia.

Since its introduction, the company has taken orders for more than 10,500 737s from 265 customers.

A 737 takes off or lands every two seconds, according to Boeing.

In 2017, Boeing will begin deliveries of the 737 MAX, with new engines and more fuel efficiency.

 

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aviation industry, Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems, suppliers | Comments

NTSB to hold forum and hearing on 787 battery investigation

March 7, 201311:08 a.m.

The National Transportation Safety Board plans to hold a forum and hearing in April related to the investigation into a battery fire on a Japan Airlines’ Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Boston.

“With the grounding of the 787 fleet, concurrent international incident investigations, redesign and re-certification activities taking place simultaneously, it is essential to provide the aviation community, policy makers and the public with the factual information we are developing,” NTSB chairman Deborah Hersman said in a statement.

The forum, to be held in mid-April, will explore lithium-ion battery technology and transportation safety, the NTSB said. The hearing, to be held later in April, will focus on the design and certification of the 787 battery system.

The information will help the NTSB and the transportation community understand the risks and benefits of lithium batteries.

It also will help the understanding of how manufacturers and regulators evaluate the safety of the new technology, the agency said.

The NTSB released an interm report Thursday along with 499 pages of data related to the investigation.

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, aviation industry, Aviation industry suppliers, Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems | Comments

Boeing delivers first 777 produced at increased rate

Feb. 26, 20139:24 a.m.

Boeing has delivered the first 777 airplane at an increased production rate of 8.3 per month, or 100 airplanes a year, the company said.

The plane, a 777 Freighter, was delivered to Korean Air.

In the past 32 months, production rates on the 777 have increased twice. Rates rose from five to seven per month in 2011 before increasing to a record 8.3 per month.

Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita builds the nose section and nacelles of the 777. Its Tulsa plant builds the wing’s leading edges.

Spirit increased increased production on the plane to meet Boeing’s demand.

Through the end of January, Boeing has delivered 1,072 777s. The company has taken orders for 1,451 777s from 66 customers.

 

 

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems | Comments

Boeing delivers sixth production P-8A Poseidon; final delivery of first production lot

Feb. 4, 201310:57 a.m.

Boeing delivered its sixth production P-8A Poseidon aircraft to the U.S. Navy, completing the first group of low-rate initial production aircraft used for maritime patrol, Boeing announced Monday.

Boeing is on schedule to build 24 P-8A aircraft as part of contracts awarded in 2011 and 2012.

The Navy plans to buy 117 P-8As as it replaces its fleet of P-3 aircraft.

The planes use the Boeing 737-800 commercial aircraft platform.

Spirit AeroSystems builds the entire fuselage, pylons and thrust reverser in Wichita and wing components in Tulsa.

The P-8A provides long-range patrol capabilities, such as anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

Boeing will deliver its seventh production P-8A to the Navy later in the first quarter.

 

By Molly McMillin | Filed under Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems | Comments

Boeing completes first 777 built at increased production rates

Jan. 10, 201311:02 a.m.

Boeing has rolled out the first 777 airliner built at the increased production rate of 8.3 planes per month, the company said Thursday.

The plane, a freighter, will be delivered to Korean Air in February.

Increased production began in October when the first parts entered Boeing’s Everett, Wash., plant, it said.

Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita produces parts of the 777 and has increased production to meet Boeing’s increased rates.

In the last 31 months, Boeing has increased 777 production twice — from five to seven plans per month in 2011, and now to a record high of 8.3 per month, the company said.

 

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, aviation industry, Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems | Comments Off

Spirit AeroSystems, engineering union reach tentative contract agreement

Nov. 30, 20122:44 p.m.

Spirit AeroSystems and its engineering union have reached a tentative agreement on a new six-year contract, the two announced Friday.

The agreement between the company and the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace’s Wichita Engineering Unit was reached late Thursday.

Union negotiators and its council unanimously recommend acceptance.

SPEEA represents 811 engineers at Spirit.

The company’s offer includes a minimum salary guarantee fund of 3 percent in the second and fourth year of the contract, with funds in the remaining years to be based on the market, said Bob Brewer, SPEEA Midwest director.

It also includes compensated travel time, increases to an incentive award plan, $2,500 ratification bonus, financial incentives to reduce employees’ cost of insurance premiums, premium-free dental coverage and improvement on job security issues and outsourcing, Brewer said.

Under the proposal, engineers would pay 15 percent of the cost of insurance premiums next year, followed by 16 percent in 2014, 18 percent in 2015 and 20 percent in the remaining years.

At the same time, the plan offers better coverage and lower co-pays and deductibles, Brewer said.

“I think without a doubt, the two teams worked very well together,” Brewer said. “We had a common goal and objective to get this done right the first time.”

Main table negotiations began Oct. 29. Both sides have been meeting in subcommittees since Sept. 12.

SPEEA members vote on whether to accept the proposal Dec. 11 at Curtis Middle School at 1031 S. Edgemoor.

Doors open at 4:30 p.m. with a meeting at 5:00. Voting concludes after the meeting.

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aviation industry, Spirit AeroSystems, unions | Comments Off

Governor appoints Spirit vice president to WSU Board of Trustees

Oct. 10, 20121:20 p.m.

Gov. Sam Brownback has appointed David Coleal, Spirit AeroSystems vice president and general manager of its fuselage business, to the Wichita State University Board of Trustees.

The board manages the university’s endowment and the mill levy.

Before joining Spirit, Coleal served as vice president and general manager of Bombardier Learjet in Wichita.

 

 

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, Spirit AeroSystems | Comments Off