Company Watch - Boeing

AirGuide Business, Jan 14, 2008

Jan 14, 2008

BAE Systems is to equip American Boeing 767-200s with test antimissile systems. BAE Systems received a $29 million award from the US Dept. of Homeland Security to equip three American Airlines 767-200s with its Jeteye infrared aircraft missile defense systems on a test basis. DHS already has conducted trials of the system's missile-defeating capability at government test ranges. Systems on American Airlines aircraft will be used to evaluate Jeteye's compatibility with daily passenger airline operations and maintenance. Jan 8, 2008

Arizona lawmakers support Boeing tanker bid. A group of Arizona lawmakers sent a letter to the Air Force supporting Boeing's bid for a contact to build air-refueling tankers. Boeing is competing against a team of Northrop Grumman and Europe's EADS. The lawmakers say they would prefer to see the contract awarded to U.S. companies. Jan 11, 2008

Boeing played down the danger related to "new kinds of passenger connectivity to previously isolated data networks" on the 787, which were specified in special conditions mandated for certification by US FAA released earlier this month. The concerns that people could inadvertently or deliberately access aircraft systems through the IFE/connectivity features of the 787 were published by FAA last April and the matter was raised by technical media during the Dreamliner rollout in briefings with Systems Director Mike Sinnett. At the time, Sinnett said the 787 design includes both hardware and software to prevent unwanted transfer of data. He also highlighted that there is "no connection between the passenger entertainment and communication access and the aircraft's flight systems." A Boeing spokesperson said yesterday that the company had "already addressed the FAA's concerns but required tests on flight test aircraft before certification." She added that "external and internal auditors have checked the system and there isn't a problem." Jan 11, 2008

The Air Force is reviewing decades-old contracts to determine whether manufacturers of U.S. fighter jets bear responsibility for a defect that caused one of the planes to break apart in flight late last year, officials said Thursday. An investigation of the November crash of an Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) F-15 showed that one of several support beams in the plane was thinner than design specifications required. That faulty part caused a failure that split the plane in two. The downed plane was built in 1980 by McDonnell Douglas Corp., which merged with Boeing Co. in 1997. Boeing officials participated in the crash investigation and helped identify the structural failure that led to the mishap, Air Force officials said. Jan 11, 2008

Asian low-cost carriers and major carriers in the Middle East powered a worldwide scramble for single-aisle jets and new, more fuel-efficient aircraft such as Boeing's 787. Boeing last week reported an industry record of 1,413 firm commercial plane orders, setting up a photo-finish with Airbus. Jan 10, 2008

Boeing 787 faces additional three-week delay. Boeing's 787 jetliner will face an additional three-week delay, according to a report on an industry blog. The company did not confirm or deny the report, saying only that it is "focused on our milestone for airplane No. 1. Jan 10, 2008

Boeing must show 787 remains secure: Boeing must demonstrate that offering in-flight Internet access will not leave its 787 jetliner open to security threats. A spokeswoman noted that the plane's controls "are not connected in any way to the Internet." Jan 10, 2008

Boeing says several countries are interested in Chinook. Boeing delivered 36 Chinook helicopters to the Army and international customers last year. The company also said it is working with several countries interested in the new CH-47F. Jan 10, 2008

Some Boeing F-15s have structural problems, Air Force says. The Air Force on Wednesday said a structural component on about 40% of the Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) F-15 fighter jets does not meet original specifications. The remaining fighters have been cleared for flight after detailed inspections. Jan 10, 2008

Boeing 787 Internet system raises concerns about hackers. The FAA is concerned that a computer system that will allow passengers on the Boeing 787 to access the Internet could make the plane vulnerable to hackers. The system is connected to the plane's controls, navigation and communication systems. Boeing said it is working on the problem and will test a solution soon. Jan 8, 2008

Boeing freighters enjoyed a third consecutive record sales year, with 83 gross orders for cargo aircraft in 2007, up from 81 in 2006 and 74 in 2005. Notable was UPS's order for 27 767-300Fs. Jan 7, 2008

Boeing tallies record 1,413 net orders from 80 customers in 2007. Boeing smashed its previous commercial aircraft sales record in 2007, with 80 customers placing orders net of cancellations for 1,413 aircraft. Boeing topped the 1,000-order mark for the third consecutive year after posting 1,005 orders in 2005 and 1,044 in 2006. It set sales records for the 787 and 737 while the 747, 777 and 767 programs also passed order milestones. The 2007 orders take Boeing's backlog to more than 3,400. Jan 7, 2008