Boeing is planning another increase in production rates as it prepares to keep pace with a surging orderbook and growing delivery backlog, now moving towards 1,500 aircraft.
New urgency was injected into the company's continuous assessment of production rates by the Delta Air Lines order in March for up to 644 aircraft, which followed an agreement of similar magnitude with American Airlines in 1996. Boeing's official unfulfilled announced order backlog at the end of March stood at 1,397.
Boeing's stated plan calls for monthly output of all models to total 40 aircraft by the fourth quarter of 1997, a record output for the firm, which peaked at 38 a month in the boom of the early 1990s.
Monthly production levels are due to rise from the current 26.5 aircraft to 29 by the middle of the year before reaching 40 by year end. Internal figures, show, however, that Boeing is studying options which cover total monthly tallies rising to between 45 and 46.
Most of the increase involves the 737, which will more than double in output in 1997, to 21 a month.
The 777 line is also set to accelerate to its peak of seven a month by the middle of the year, while the 747, 757 and 767 will stabilise at four a month.
According to one study, the 737 line, which is believed to have a backlog of around 840, will rise in production to 24 or 25 a month. The 747 would return to its peak of up to five a month, as would the 767, in the wake of the -400 launch. Only the 757 line, which peaked at 8.5 a month in 1992, is predicted to remain at four, although that could rise, depending on the success of the new -300 stretch.
The studies are also understood to include the possible use of McDonnell Douglas' (MDC's) Long Beach site in California as a final-assembly line for the 757, allowing Renton to concentrate on 737s, although Boeing hints that such a move is doubtful. Boeing declines to make any official comment on plans for Long Beach until the proposed acquisition of MDC goes through Governmental and shareholder approval.
The cancellation of the 747-500X/600X plans also freed space at Everett, which was able to absorb the new 767-400.
Source: Flight International
