Boeing has expanded its operations in North Charleston, South Carolina, and brought more work in-house previously performed by a supplier.
The North Charleston complex will also assemble the fan inlet for the 737 Max and design the fan cowl for the same aircraft and the nacelle of the 777X, Boeing announced on 11 February while opening a new propulsion systems facility on the site.
Boeing had previously disclosed that only the design of the fan inlet for the 737 Max would be performed in North Charleston. Now, that part will also be assembled at the site, along with the additional design work.
A supplier – UTC Aerospace Systems – has been Boeing’s supplier for the 737NG and 777 nacelles. After having suppliers assemble nacelles for the last 10-15 years, Boeing says, the company is “strategically” moving to bring that work back in-house.
It follows Boeing’s decision to take back centre fuselage assembly for the 787. That work was previously performed in Charleston by Global Aeronautica, a joint venture formed by Alenia and Vought (now Triumph AeroStructures). Boeing later expanded the site to assemble the 787-8 and 787-9. It will also become the exclusive final assembly site for the 787-10.
Boeing’s new 20,800m2 (225,000ft2) facility in North Charleston will begin assembling nacelle inlets when 737 Max production begins later this year.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
