A320 upgrades on the way

Airbus has decided to proceed with a winglet program for the A320 family and will decide by the end of 2010 whether to re-engine the family. Also: CFM International is ready to advance its schedule for the LEAP-X… Read More

Boeing files permits for SC for new assembly building

Boeing has filed for permits in Charleston (SC) to clear more than 80 acres of forest to make way for an assembly site and delivery center, taxiways and related stuff. The building would be 720,000 sq. ft. Boeing… Read More

787 Line 2 incentives: WA vs SC

Some media and a few politicians misinterpreted the study released yesterday by Washington State, as well as not having correct what South Carolina is or isn’t doing, to land production Line 2 for the 787. The misinterpretation comes… Read More

Washington State pitches 787 Line 2

Washington State last week made a pitch to the new Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO James Albaugh for locating the second 787 assembly line in Everett, the home of Boeing’s wide body production. Charleston (SC) is competing for the… Read More

Airbus: A400M, Future funding

With tanker news dominating this week, there are a few Airbus items that haven’t received much attention: the A400M, future airplane program funding and the A350. (Updated September 26.) A400M This disastrous program appears heading for some resolution…. Read More

KC-X tanker DRFP released

Update, September 28: DOD Buzz reports Boeing is going to offer two bids, one each for the KC-767 and KC-777. Here is the link. We think this is a brilliant move. Original Post: Here is the link to… Read More

DOD Tanker Briefing

Updates: Here is a running update of the Pentagon briefing to reporters, 4pm EDT, 24 Sept. William Lynn Deputy Sec Def: USAF will be source-selection team but overseen by DOD. There will be independent review panels as well,… Read More

So there, Boeing: put this in your smipe and poke it

Boeing is known for its complaining that Washington State is a lousy place to do business. Yesterday (September 22) the Tax Foundation came out with its new state rankings for business-friendly tax states. Washington’s ranking: #9. South Carolina:… Read More

Refueling Dr. Strangelove

The Draft Request for Proposal for Round 3 of the KC-X tanker competition isn’t even out yet and the procurement process is already perverted. The DRFP is thought to be ready for release tomorrow (September 24). The USAF… Read More

WTO “anachronistic”

We are back from a trip to Europe, where we had the opportunity to sit down with Thomas Enders, CEO of Airbus. We talked about (among other things) the WTO case and the implications for Airbus on funding… Read More