British Aerospace has secured a deal from Boeing to manufacture components for the 777 twinjet as the Airbus partner company realigns its aerostructures business. The Boeing deal follows an earlier contract to produce components for the Next Generation 737 and the 747.
BAe's Aerostructures division has received a 10-year contract from Boeing's Philadelphia plant to be the sole manufacturer of wing fixed leading edges for the 777. Preparation for the work has begun at BAe's Prestwick plant in Scotland, and manufacturing will start in the third quarter of 2000.
The latest contract comes as BAe repositions work packages around its plants as part of a move to create better "site focus". With increasing consolidation in the industry, BAe says it is trying to create centres of excellence with specific areas of specialisation.
Prestwick is to become the prime site for the manufacture of large civil aerostructures, and along with the 777 work, will take over from the Salmsbury plant near Preston the manufacture of 747 engine pylons and assembly of Airbus leading/trailing edges.
Salmsbury will focus on work for advanced military airframes such as the Typhoon, while the Chadderton plant near Manchester will become the centre for military "spares and repairs".
Meanwhile, work packages for BAe's Airbus division will be transferred from Chadderton at the end of 2000, and a "large chunk" of the work is being subcontracted to Alenia of Italy. BAe Airbus is investing £20 million ($33 million) to expand its Chester site. This plant will become the centre of excellence for stringer production and will manufacture A330/A340 bottom stringers, while Hawker business jet work will be moved to nearby Buckley.
Source: Flight International
