Boeing acquires Alenia North America's interest in Global Aeronautica

Boeing announced (22-Dec-2009) the acquisition Alenia North America's half of Global Aeronautica, becoming the sole owner. Global Aeronautica sits adjacent to the Boeing Charleston site and the company is a major sub-assembly manufacturer for the B787, the joining of the mid-fuselage sections, the installation and testing of associated elements, and the application of surface finishes to more than 60% of the fuselage. Boeing will integrate the Global Aeronautica facility with the rest of Boeing's organisation in South Carolina. Alenia North America is a subsidiary of Italy's Alenia Aeronautica, a Finmeccanica company. [more - Boeing]

Boeing Commercial Airplanes: "The Boeing Charleston site is critical to the success of the 787 programme. Through this acquisition, Boeing benefits by joining together two solid operations - including their talented employees and state-of-the-art facilities - into one Boeing team. Ultimately, we believe integration of the site will increase productivity for the 787 program and allow us to maintain our long-term competitiveness," Jim Albaugh, President & CEO. Source; Boeing, 22-Dec-2009.

Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) stated (22-Dec-2009) Boeing's acquisition of Global Aeronautica "emphasizes the risks involved in The Boeing Company's decision to outsource complex and cutting edge technology". [more]

SPEEA: "Boeing thought the global supply chain would help spread cost and risk, but instead it made them more vulnerable. They needed to buy Global Aeronautica because it's too important to fail, just like their decision to buy Vought," Ray Goforth, Executive Director. Source: SPEEA, 22-Dec-2009.