Boeing: News Releases

SEATTLE, Feb. 1, 2011 – Boeing [NYSE: BA], Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance and Air New Zealand today said an agreement has been signed to expand the airline’s use of the 777 Component Services Program (CSP), offered jointly by Boeing and Air France Industries KLM Engineering and Maintenance.

After gaining experience with the CSP on its 777-200ER (extended range) fleet, Air New Zealand is expanding the support for common parts to cover its fleet of 777-300ERs. These parts will be added to the existing 777 CSP agreement. The airline accepted the first of its five 777-300ERs in December 2010.

The program allows airlines to outsource the cost and logistical challenge of keeping important parts on hand. It significantly reduces the airline's up-front investment in spare parts and offers a reliable supply of critical parts. They also benefit by receiving a working component more quickly, rather than having to wait for a completed repair that could ground an airplane.

“For the past four years the 777 Component Services Program has operationally been highly successful on our 777-200ER fleet, so it is natural to expand it to include our new 777-300ERs,” said Vanessa Stoddart, group general manager, Technical Operations and People, Air New Zealand. “The -300ER’s longer range make the need for this component availability even more critical.”

"Air New Zealand, with its unique location and route structure, requires a great airplane operating at the top of its performance capability," said Dale Wilkinson, vice president of Material Services for Commercial Aviation Services, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The 777 Component Services Program will help provide that edge.”

“Air New Zealand has chosen a program that has demonstrated its relevance to customer expectations. Since it’s been launched, the 777 CSP is indeed the favorite program for 777 operators,” said Robert Anton, senior vice president, Components Services, Air France Industries.

Thirteen 777 customer airlines participate in the CSP, with a total of 135 aircraft currently operating under the program.

The 777 CSP program is offered jointly by Boeing and AFI KLM E&M, who also offer a similar program for Next-Generation 737 models.

Boeing: News Releases

Boeing: Boeing and iRobot Team Delivers 1st SUGVs to US Air Force

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Jan. 31, 2011 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and partner iRobot Corp. [NASDAQ: IRBT] today announced that they have delivered the first 30 Small Unmanned Ground Vehicles (SUGV) under a contract with the U.S. Air Force for the service's Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team. This is the first task order of an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract which runs through September 2012.
"We are pleased to work with iRobot to enable Air Force EOD technicians to perform reconnaissance while reducing their exposure to unexploded ordnance," said Mike Huddleston, Robotics program manager for Boeing Network & Tactical Systems.
"Unmanned ground vehicles have been saving lives for years on asymmetric battlefields," said Robert Moses, president of iRobot's Government and Industrial Robots division. "SUGV represents an important advancement in UGV technology because of its light weight and state-of-the-art capabilities. It gives warfighters the ability to deploy the robot at a moment's notice when faced with a variety of dangerous missions."
Boeing and iRobot developed the SUGV family of vehicles under a strategic alliance that began in 2007. The robot is designed to give warfighters real-time awareness of critical situations and allow them to complete missions from safe standoff distances. SUGV is ideal for a variety of mission types, including EOD, route clearance and reconnaissance. As the prime contractor, Boeing provides program management, contracts, and quality-control support from offices in Huntsville. iRobot is responsible for engineering, design, manufacturing, training and logistics services, with the majority of work conducted in Bedford, Mass.
iRobot designs and builds robots that make a difference. The company's home robots help people with smarter ways to clean, and its government and industrial robots protect those in harm’s way. iRobot's consumer and military robots feature iRobot Aware® robot intelligence systems, proprietary technology incorporating advanced concepts in navigation, mobility, manipulation and artificial intelligence. For more information about iRobot, visit www.irobot.com.
Boeing is the largest aerospace company in Alabama and one of the state's largest employers. Current company operations in Huntsville include the Ground-based Midcourse Defense program and other missile defense work, such as the Arrow system and the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 seeker, as well as work associated with Ares I, the International Space Station, Army Integrated Logistics, Brigade Combat Team Modernization and engineering for the 787 and the P-8A Poseidon.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $32 billion business with 66,000 employees worldwide.
Boeing: Boeing and iRobot Team Delivers 1st SUGVs to US Air Force

Boeing, Comair Limited Announce Next-Generation 737 Order - Feb 2, 2011

JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Comair Limited today announced an order for eight Next-Generation 737-800s complete with the innovative new Boeing Sky Interior. Comair will use its new 737s to update the fleet of Comair's low-fare airline, kulula.com. The airplanes are valued at approximately $646 million at current list prices. The order previously was attributed to an unidentified customer on Boeing's orders and deliveries website.

Launched in 2001 as South Africa's first low-fare carrier, kulula.com currently operates an all-Boeing fleet of ten 737s, including three leased 737-800s. Comair also operates as a franchise partner of British Airways, with thirteen 737 airplanes flying domestically in South Africa and regionally in Southern Africa.

"The purchase of new Boeing 737-800s is historic for our company and gives all our 1,800 staff a great feeling of pride," said Gidon Novick, joint CEO of Comair Ltd. "The new fleet is an essential part of our efficiency drive, which will not only give us a cost leadership position in our industry, but also provide our customers with exceptional levels of reliability and comfort with the spacious new interior."

In addition to its 737-800 order, Comair is purchasing the Maintenance Performance Toolbox from Boeing Commercial Aviation Services. The Maintenance Performance Toolbox improves an airline's fleet efficiency by integrating manufacturer and customer documentation, use of intelligent graphics, cross-document searching and linking aircraft fault data to specific maintenance actions. It also provides a comprehensive structural repair history for each airplane while reducing the time needed to find tail-specific technical information in time-critical situations, such as line maintenance troubleshooting and dispatch.

"Comair is an amazing success story, as this airline company has posted operating profits each year since it was founded in 1946," said Marlin Dailey, vice president of Sales and Marketing for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "Today's order demonstrates the value the 737-800 has already brought to its fleet and the confidence Comair has in this airplane."

Today's operators fly 737s that are 5 percent more fuel-efficient than the first Next-Generation 737s delivered in 1998, and another 2 percent improvement is on the way. Boeing's performance improvement package, now being certified, will boost Comair's fuel efficiency a further 2 percent through aerodynamic and engine changes.

Among the airlines that recently transported thousands of fans and football players throughout South Africa for the World Cup, Comair operates nearly 800 flights each week on its South African and regional routes.

Boeing, Comair Limited Announce Next-Generation 737 Order - Feb 2, 2011