Boeing: Assembly of 7E7 may require only 3 days:

Boeing: Assembly of 7E7 may require only 3 days

HELEN JUNG, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
EVERETT -- The Boeing Co.'s newest jet -- the mid-sized, fuel-efficient 7E7 -- might take as little as three days to assemble as the company drastically cuts down the number of pieces needed to build an aircraft, a Boeing executive said Wednesday.

Mike Bair, a senior vice president leading the Boeing 7E7 program, said the company has a "high-level idea" of the components it will build or have brought in to the factory and believes it can dramatically shorten the assembly process, which now takes 13 to 25 days for other Boeing jets.

"We're trying to get as much of the work done before final assembly where we bring the airplane together in relatively complete pieces and put it together in a relatively short time," Bair told business leaders, state legislators and others attending the Snohomish County Economic Development Council's quarterly luncheon.

Bair offered a few other details about the jet -- which will be the 11th all-new jet built by Boeing. He said the company wants to design a jet that has the same recognition factor among the general public as the 747 jumbo jet.

"We want people to instantly recognize that it's a 7E7," he said.

The jet will be faster than the 777 but a bit slower than the 747, he said. The jet will seat between 200 and 250 passengers and have a range similar to that of the extended-range versions of Boeing's larger 777, which can fly more than 8,200 miles.

Boeing is looking at more advanced composite materials in building the jet, which are lighter than aluminum, resist corrosion and could mean fewer pieces in constructing the fuselage, he said. In addition, Boeing is looking at ways to improve the quality of the air in the cabin, Bair said.

But Bair did not offer any indication of where Boeing will assemble the 7E7. Boeing is awaiting bids from communities from around the country on the amenities, perks and incentives they can offer the Chicago-based aerospace manufacturer to locate the plant in their states.

Washington state, where Boeing builds all but one of its commercial jets, formally launched its campaign Wednesday to land the 7E7, although legislators and state officials have been touting their commitment for weeks.

Bids are due by June 20, and the company expects to make a decision on a final site by the end of the year.

The company has said it estimates between 800 and 1,200 people will work in final assembly and support for the new jet.

"A lot of people think this is about us looking for a large check," Bair said. "It's not. It's us looking for a business environment that will allow us to be successful for 25 or 30 years."

On the Web

Boeing 7E7: www.boeing.com/commercial/7e7

http://www.boeing.com