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Boeing PR: NewGen Tanker Win Would Bring 230 Jobs, $10 Million to Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY, Nov. 12, 2010 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced that Oklahoma will benefit from an estimated 230 total jobs and generate an estimated $10 million in annual economic impact if the NewGen Tanker is selected as the U.S. Air Force’s next aerial refueling aircraft.

Boeing submitted its proposal July 9 to replace 179 of the Air Force’s 400 Eisenhower-era KC-135 aircraft. The Air Force is expected to award a contract in the next few months.

"We welcome the high-paying, skilled jobs that the Boeing tanker project will support," said Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry. "Oklahomans will be very proud to contribute to the mission of our country’s brave military men and women, who need just the kind of state-of-the-art, American-made tanker that Boeing has proposed."

"Oklahoma’s aerospace workers will play an integral role on Boeing’s tanker team," said Mark DeVoss, Supplier Management director, Boeing Tanker Programs. "Along with the rest of the United States Tanker Team, our suppliers in Oklahoma will be focused on building a NewGen Tanker that best meets America’s military needs at the greatest value to American taxpayers."

Oklahoma manufacturers ready to produce critical components on the NewGen Tanker include:

  • Boeing, Oklahoma City
  • Cinch Connectors, Vinita
  • Limco Manufacturing, Tulsa
  • Precise Machining & Manufacturing, Tulsa.

Currently, Boeing has 964 employees in Oklahoma and works with nearly 247 suppliers/vendors, delivering a total $531 million in annual economic impact.

The NewGen Tanker is a widebody, multi-mission aircraft based on the proven Boeing 767 commercial airplane and updated with the latest and most advanced technology. Capable of fulfilling the Air Force’s needs for transport of fuel, cargo, passengers and patients, the combat-ready NewGen Tanker will meet or exceed the 372 mandatory requirements described in the service’s final KC-X Request for Proposal released Feb. 24.

The NewGen Tanker will be made with a low-risk approach to manufacturing that relies on existing Boeing facilities in Washington state and Kansas as well as U.S. suppliers throughout the nation, with decades of experience delivering dependable military tanker and derivative aircraft. Nationwide, the NewGen Tanker program will support approximately 50,000 total U.S. jobs with Boeing and more than 800 suppliers in more than 40 states.

The Boeing NewGen Tanker also will be more cost-effective to own and operate than a larger, heavier tanker. It will save American taxpayers more than $10 billion in fuel costs over its 40-year service life because it burns 24 percent less fuel than the competitor’s airplane.

Boeing has been designing, building, modifying and supporting tankers for decades. These include the KC-135 that will be replaced in the KC-X competition, and the KC-10 fleet. The company also has delivered four KC-767Js to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and is on contract to deliver four KC-767As to the Italian Air Force.

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    Magnicharters Airlines Jet Crash-Landed at Mexico City Airport

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    The Boeing 737 plane was coming from the Caribbean coast resort of Cancun when its landing gear partially collapsed upon landing.

    There were 139 passengers and 5 crew members aboard at the time; none of them were injured. Authorities said some of the passengers were treated for “nervous crisis.”

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    Boeing, Copa Airlines Complete Order for 22 Next-Generation 737s

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2010–Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Copa Airlines today announced an order for 22 Next-Generation 737-800s at a signing ceremony at the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C. The order previously was attributed to an unidentified customer on Boeing’s orders and deliveries website.

    “We thank Copa Airlines for this significant order and are very proud to partner with one of the most successful airlines in the industry,” said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Copa’s exceptional business model, ideal geographic position and modern and efficient fleet will continue to drive its leadership in the Latin American aviation market.”

    “These 22 firm aircraft plus 10 options, which deliver between 2015 and 2018, are an integral part of our medium term growth plan,” said Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Airlines. “This is the largest aircraft order in Copa’s history, which is a reflection not only of our confidence in the future of Latin America and Panama, but also of our successful business model, which has made our Hub of the America’s the best connecting point for intra-Latin America travel.”

    The 22 firm airplanes are valued at approximately $1.7 billion at list prices and nearly double Copa’s existing Next-Generation 737 fleet. The order is the largest new aircraft order in Copa Airlines’ history and is part of the airlines’ plan to continue to grow its fleet to meet market demands for new-generation, more fuel-efficient airplanes.

    “Today’s signing not only celebrates the strong relationship between Boeing and Copa Airlines, but also symbolizes the strong political and commercial ties between the United States and Panama,” Albaugh said.

    The new airplanes will be outfitted with the 737 Boeing Sky Interior featuring new modern sculpted sidewalls and window reveals that provide passengers with a greater connection to the flying experience. They also will benefit from performance improvements expected to result in a 2 percent reduction in fuel consumption through a combination of airframe and engine improvements. The performance improvements will be delivered beginning in mid-2011 through early 2012.

    Operating out of the “Hub of the Americas” in Panama City, Copa provides service to 46 destinations in 24 countries.

    In the past two years, Copa has purchased 37 Next-Generation 737-800s new from Boeing and entered into leasing agreements for an additional 10.

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  • North American Airlines and VT Systems Plan Conversion of Boeing 757-200 to Combi Configuration

    ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 17, 2010 — North American Airlines, a subsidiary of Global Aviation Holdings Inc., and the aerospace division of Vision Technologies Systems, Inc. (VT Systems), a subsidiary of ST Engineering, today announced that they have entered into an agreement for the conversion of Boeing 757-200 passenger aircraft to Combi configuration. In the Combi configuration, the aircraft will accommodate up to 10 cargo pallets and provide comfortable cabin seating for 45 passengers.

    “The Boeing 757 Combi will be utilized on routes where our customers require the shipment of heavy supplies as well as personnel,” said Brian Bauer, Chief Commercial Officer of Global Aviation. “As a longtime operator of the passenger Boeing 757, North American will be able to offer customers a seamless upgrade using this modern and fuel-efficient platform.”

    “This agreement is a vote of confidence in our strong MRO and engineering track record in the U.S. and our capability to offer tailored solutions to meet customers’ special operating requirements,” said General (Retired) John G. Coburn, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of VT Systems. “We look forward to supporting North American Airlines with a complete solution – from design and development to implementing the conversion at our MRO facilities.”

    VT Systems’ aerospace division, which owns maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities in Mobile and San Antonio, is the largest private employer in Mobile, and the largest private independent MRO employer in San Antonio. Managed by ST Aerospace as part of its global network of MRO facilities, these facilities have been performing heavy maintenance and modification works for numerous aircraft types, including the Boeing 757. The Mobile facility previously designed and converted two Royal New Zealand Air Force 757-200 passenger aircraft into multi-role combination configuration. It also jointly developed the engineering solution with Boeing for the 757-200 passenger-to-freighter (PTF) conversion and redelivered 17 converted freighters to Boeing’s customer DHL. It is currently performing PTF conversions for FedEx Express, following the award of a conversion contract for 87 Boeing 757-200 aircraft. ST Aerospace is the aerospace arm of ST Engineering.

    North American Airlines is a provider of customized, non-scheduled air transport services. Founded in 1989, North American operates Boeing 757-200 and Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. North American is a subsidiary of Global Aviation Holdings Inc. which is the largest provider of contracted air transportation services to the U.S. Military.

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    Asiana Cargo Jet Lost at Sea



    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Niki Kapsamunov

    What: Asiana Boeing 747-400 Cargo plane en route from South Korea’s Incheon International Airport and to Pudong China
    Where: southern resort island of Jeju, South Korea
    When: July 27, 2011 3:05am local time
    Who: two people
    Why: At 7600 feet, the crew reported control problems, and the aircraft’s transponder transmitted the emergency code. Sixty-seven minutes after takeoff, the crew reported fire in the cargo hold and lost contact with ATC. They were planning to divert to Jeju, but instead the plane crashed off of Jeju island. There were strong winds at the time of the plane’s disappearance. The captain was 51 and the first officer was 44; and pilot, Choi Sang-ki, and co-pilot, Lee Jung-woong are still missing.

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    Continental Overactive Heater

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    Where: Newark
    When: Sep 19th 2011
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