Boeing Confirms Use Of Wichita Facility If KC-X Won

Boeing’s (BA) Wichita, KS plant has supported may of their military programs over the years. In their last bid for the KC-X proposal the 767 aircraft would have been modified to become the new tanker there. In October the company would no longer make that commitment to using the Wichita plant. The company had discussed using a lower cost plant to do the work with an eye to lowering their overall cost. This obviously was a blow to the employees and the political supporters of the work being done there.

Now Boeing announced yesterday that at least some of the military conversion of the aircraft will be carried out in Wichita. This will gain them even further support from some key Senators and Congressmen as well as there unions. In many ways the company had no real choice. The Wichita plant has long been established, can do the work and needs it. The announcement makes sense at this time.n

EADS Has Good Quarter

EADS announced that in the third quarter it was able to make a profit compared to the large losses last year. The Wall Street Journal has the story. Despite ongoing issues with two of its key programs – the A400 military transport and the A380 airliner – the company made about $800 M. The company found that its restructuring cost less then expected and cost reductions in the construction of its commercial aircraft also helped. Read more

Australia Plans to Privatise Electricity Production

November 2, 2008 by Matthew Potter · Comment
Filed under: Australia, logistics 

The Australian Government still owns three electrical power generators; as well as three electricity retail companies. Now the The Australian is saying that the government plans to sell these companies to private bidders. This had been proposed previously by the government but the terms were considered so bad that the Minister in charge, Mr. Iemma, was forced to resign. Now his successor, Mr. Rees, is trying to follow through with the idea. Read more

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