Continental Announces New Tentative Agreement With Flight Attendants

LONDON, Jan. 24, 2011 — Boeing and its Boeing Defence UK subsidiary today announced that the Boeing UK Rotorcraft Support team has begun flight testing the first Chinook Mk4 helicopter for the Royal Air Force (RAF). The first flight took place on Dec. 9 in Hampshire, England.

“Project JULIUS, as the Mk4 program is known, will modernize the current Royal Air Force Chinook fleet – essentially giving us new aircraft,” said Chris White-Horne, Mk4 project team leader for the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence.
Project JULIUS will modify 38 Mk2/2A Chinooks into the Mk4/4A configuration and eight Mk3 Chinooks into the Mk5 configuration. All the aircraft will be delivered to RAF Odiham in Hampshire.

A major part of the modification for both the Mk4/4A and Mk5 aircraft is the Thales TopDeck cockpit. Thales UK is under contract with Boeing to supply its Cockpit Display System/Mission Avionic System, which will provide improved situational awareness, increased safety and options for capability enhancement. The upgraded and integrated cockpit display includes four multifunction displays, two stand-by flight displays, updated communications interfaces, and two new air data computers.
“The first of the modified JULIUS Chinook helicopters is expected to be available to commanders before the end of 2011,” said David Pitchforth, managing director, Boeing UK Rotorcraft Support. “The entire Mk2 fleet will be fitted with the JULIUS cockpit by early 2015, followed by Mk2A and Mk3 modifications by 2015 and 2016, respectively.”

The modifications also include the addition of a third crew-member seat and an update of Airworthiness & Safety Certification and Qualification for the modernized Chinook. The aircraft are being modified at the Gosport Fleetlands facility operated by Vector Aerospace, Boeing’s principal subcontractor for deep support of the RAF Chinook fleet. Vector Aerospace has established a dedicated production line at Fleetlands to support the JULIUS program, with specialist component manufacture provided from its Almondbank facility near Perth, Scotland.

“Vector Aerospace is delighted to be associated with this significant milestone. It is a testimony to the skill and dedication of our teams in Fleetlands and Almondbank, who have worked in a spirit of true partnership with our customer Boeing and the key equipment suppliers,” said Tim Rice, managing director, Vector Aerospace UK.

OTTAWA, Ontario, June 1, 2010 — The Boeing Company and Canadian industry partners today announced the launch of a new research and development consortium aimed at strengthening Canada’s competitive position in the manufacturing of advanced composite materials for aerospace and other industries.

The Canadian Composites Manufacturing Research and Development consortium (CCMRD) brings together major aerospace companies and small- to medium-sized enterprises to develop and transform the latest technical and academic knowledge into practical solutions that will enhance Canada’s global competitiveness.

“A virtual R&D center of this type is much needed in Canada,” said Anoush Poursartip, CCMRD chairman and Research director for Convergent Manufacturing Technologies, a member company. “The CCMRD will help to advance the technological capabilities of Canadian industry whilst building stronger relationships between Canadian and international aerospace original equipment manufacturers, as well as Canadian material, equipment, component and software suppliers.”

The CCMRD was formed in cooperation with the Composites Innovation Centre (CIC) in Winnipeg, National Research Council Canada’s Institute for Aerospace Research (NRC-IAR) in Ottawa, and The Boeing Company. Founding Canadian member companies include Bell Helicopter and Avior Integrated Products in Quebec; Comtek Advanced Structures in Ontario; Convergent Manufacturing Technologies and Profile Composites in British Columbia; and Bristol Aerospace, a division of Magellan Aerospace Ltd. and Cormer Group Industries Inc. in Manitoba.

The CIC is responsible for CCMRD administration, with projects to be carried out at member companies across Canada. NRC-IAR will participate as a technology adviser, providing insight and direction based on its leading-edge knowledge of the composites aerospace industry.

In addition to financial support, Boeing will provide technical expertise and project guidance through its central research, technology and innovation organization, Boeing Research & Technology. Boeing Canada Operations Ltd. in Winnipeg will take part in CCMRD projects along with other consortium members.
“Boeing’s work with the CCMRD is part of our long-term focus of working together with industry, universities and research organizations to advance Canada’s role in providing high-technology, high-quality materials and components for the aerospace industry,” said Pete Hoffman, Global Research and Development Strategy director for Boeing Research & Technology.
The CCMRD is in line with Canada’s Industrial & Regional Benefits (IRB) policy and an integral part of Boeing’s IRB program associated with the Canadian Forces’ acquisition of 15 CH-147 medium-to-heavy-lift helicopters. Canada’s IRB policy requires prime contractors, such as Boeing, to make investments in the Canadian economy as a result of winning defense and security contracts with the Canadian government.

“Through CCMRD, we’re bringing together Canadian companies of all sizes to develop unique capabilities, enhance the skills of Canada’s work force, and increase competitiveness for continued growth in the global aerospace industry and into new markets,” said Gwen Kopsie, International Industrial Participation director for Boeing Defense, Space & Security.

Boeing has been a major contributor to the Canadian economy since 1919, generating approximately $1 billion in business annually. The company employs highly skilled workers in Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia in support of its commercial and defense business units. Canada also is home to one of Boeing’s largest international supplier bases, with more than 200 suppliers in every region of the country, providing a diverse mix of high-value goods and services to Boeing and its customers.
Boeing Research & Technology collaborates with Boeing business units, customers, suppliers, universities, and other research and development agencies throughout the world to provide a broad base of innovative and affordable technologies for current and future aerospace systems and services.

Boeing Completes First 787 Dreamliner Maintenance Training Class

EVERETT, Wash., April 6 — Boeing (NYSE: BA) today announced that it has completed the first maintenance training class for the 787 Dreamliner. The class consisted of 10 mechanics from 787 launch customer ANA (All Nippon Airways) and two regulators from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB).

The mechanics, who completed the training last week, are the first of 150 ANA mechanics to be trained by Boeing over the next seven months. They spent more than 30 days learning how to maintain the world’s most advanced commercial jetliner, including 20 days of theoretical training, two days of engine runs and taxi testing, five days of practical training and five days of troubleshooting exercises. To conclude the training, students conducted component identification exams on production airplanes, as well as troubleshooting exams in the full flight simulator.

To support the all-new 787, Boeing Training & Flight Services, a division of Commercial Aviation Services, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, has developed an all-digital, Internet-based teaching system for maintenance training, along with training tools that connect real-time to a virtual airplane and airplane systems.

“Getting our mechanics trained and prepared is essential to being ready to take delivery of the airplane later this year,” said Michihide Kono, vice president of Engineering and Maintenance for ANA. “This is an important milestone for our ANA team and we are delighted to see the continued progress on the program.”

The curriculum is designed to focus on performance-based training that incorporates real-world simulated maintenance scenarios for a more immersive training experience.

“The use of personal tablet computers, interactive computer-based training, three-dimensional images and desktop simulation makes it possible to deliver training more efficiently,” said Sherry Carbary, vice president of Boeing Training & Flight Services, Commercial Aviation Services, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Our team is committed to providing our customers with the resources and tools they need to be successful.”

The 787 comes with digital tools and databases that replace volumes of printed materials. The graphic and textual database has point-and-click features for more details, allowing mechanics to navigate through documents quickly to get the information they need to do their jobs.

“This milestone is another important step along the way to being service-ready,” said Mike Fleming, director of 787 Services and Support, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Our goal is to make entry into service a seamless experience for our customers.”

Fifty-seven customers around the world have ordered 866 787s since the program was launched in April 2004, making the Dreamliner the fastest-selling new commercial jetliner in history. Delivery of the first 787 is planned for the fourth quarter of 2010.