By The Associated Press
SEATTLE (AP) — The U.S. Air Force on Thursday chose Boeing Co. to build its new fleet of aerial refueling tankers, news met with delight and rejoicing by Washington state aircraft workers and politicians.
The $35 billion contract is a major boost not just to the company but to the ailing economies in the Puget Sound area and in Wichita, Kan., where the planes will be built. Thousands of jobs are expected to be created.
Boeing will base the tankers on its 767 widebody jetliner, which is assembled at its Everett, Wash., plant. The contract initially calls for 179 of the planes, extending work for the 767 line for years.
On Thursday afternoon, workers at the Everett plant who heard the news blared their car horns during shift change.
“We are absolutely delighted, obviously,” said Bill Dugovitch, spokesman for the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, the union representing Boeing’s engineers and technical workers. “Our work force is ready to go to produce the world’s best tankers.”
State political leaders, many of whom had lobbied for years for the huge contract, quickly weighed in.
“What a great day for The Boeing Co. and for the 11,000 aerospace workers in Washington state alone that will play a role in assembling the NewGen tanker,” said Gov. Chris Gregoire.
Added Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.: “This decision is a major victory for the American workers, the American aerospace industry and
America’s military. And it is consistent with the president’s own call to ‘out-innovate’ and ‘out-build’ the rest of the world.”
Boeing had competed with the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. for the deal. EADS had planned to assemble its tankers in Mobile, Ala.
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley and other leaders gathered in Mobile for the announcement said it was a sad day for the state. A crowd gathered to watch the Pentagon announce its decision fell silent at news of the decision.
Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts said the award means 7,500 new jobs for his state “at a time when the aviation industry and our nation needs them the most.” He said the economic impact to Kansas is an estimated $388 million.
The Air Force has tried for nearly a decade to replace its aging fleet of KC-135 tankers — another Boeing plane — that date to the Eisenhower era.
