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Boeing C-17, Long Beach Jobs Get Final OK by Ryan ZumMallen | Archive | 12.17.09 |
+  The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft passed its final test in Washington D.C. yesterday, as Congress approved the 2010 Defense Appropriations Act that included $2.5 billion to purchase ten new planes.The move will keep Boeing production of the aircraft going for a few more years. Locally, it means saving about 5,000 blue-collar jobs. Congresswoman Laura Richardson released a victorious statement on Wednesday. “As one of the most important components of the Defense Appropriations Act, the $2.5 billion being provided to build and maintain 10 C-17 Air Force cargo aircraft will help our district, where they are assembled, as well as serve the nation and help protect the peace the world over,” Richardson said in the press release. “This funding will keep people working so they can keep the lights on and afford braces for their children and it will keep local businesses open. This one item alone will account for about 14,000 jobs in our area and is expected to generate $2 billion in revenue for the area and the state.” The C-17 program had been an issue of contention as the defense bill was being formed. Many argued that in tight economic circumstances, the aircraft was no longer needed and should be cut from funding. Others argued that too many jobs (locally and nationwide) were dependent on the C-17, and Boeing argued that continued production was vital to development of a replacement model in coming years. Whatever the case, Congress overwhelmingly approved the bill yesterday that included enough money for ten C-17s.
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John Greet Hooray! Another ten planes! The most excellent and venerable C-17 lives on for ten more planes. Many existing jobs both locally and Statewide have thus been protected for a time. And then what? Once those planes are built and we finally run out public interest and the national political will to build any more C-17's, then what? What are we, as a City, doing to plan for that inevitable and not-too-distant future? Anything at all? Congresswoman Richardson may be feeling "victorious" but I wonder if she has any real foresight. If she has any ideas for replacing this product and those jobs once the C-17 has finally run its course? Maybe Boeing plans to re-tool the C-17 line and build something else there but I rather doubt it. Look how quickly they vacated all of the other former aircraft assembly lines that used to exist on the Long Beach properties they acquired. I wonder if anyone has even asked *them* the question...after the C-17, then what? Perhaps the Honorable Ms. Richardson would be better spending her legislative time helping to cut, rather than increase, our federal tax burden and in helping to shrink, rather than expand, all of the many taxpayer-funded federal social programs and services that are currently and consistently draining our publicly funded coffers dry. LB resident John, there were many opportunities for Boeing to replace C-17 work with commercial aircraft production; but the C-17 is very expensive. Boeing's problem is with its unions and its relationship with LB unions has not been positive. Boeing is heavily outsourcing work normally done by domestic unions although that policy has not been very successful on 787 production. If our politicians had foresight, they would have negotiated with unions and Boeing to preserve local commercial manufacturing. Ron Good call on what Boeing is going to do after these planes are built.Their going to close shop just like they did at all the other sites they have in southern Cal.They bought Rockwell in '96 closed all their production down & buildings, then bought Douglas and has closed almost all their production down except C-17, bought Hughes and has reduced their foot print by 40 %! Boeing wants out of California. Ross There seems to be quite a bit of international interest. As of right now, the UK, NATO, Qatar, Canada and Australia fly C-17's. Hopefully, more countries, and our own, will see the value in replacing Vietnam era C-130's and C-5's with a more capable, more flexible and more efficient C-17. Just on cost per flight hour, you can fly 2 C-17 for every 1 C-5 and ship more stuff doing it. There was also talk of a commercial version known as the BC-17. But, that may stay as a pipe dream until all the Antonov AN124's fall from the sky and there are no more oversize, heavy lift airplanes out there. We'll just have to see. John Greet LB resident: Thanks for the info. I would add that "if our politicians had foresight" we would not see Boeing and Government as the two top employers in Long Beach. When Boeing leaves, Government (City Hall and the School District) will become the single biggest employer in the city and we will be one more step closer to the socialist nirvana so many want to create in Long Beach, in California and in the U.S. CHARLIE Now you see what a positive lobbyist and working Congresswoman can accomplish for you:), and take note - Boeing is right now developing an improved replacement model for guaranteed future orders; Now that's what I call Positive Thinking & Planning for a clear employed future! Kathy Ryan Just more 'Pork', but a reminder to Ms. Richardson, pork does not come free. Even the Defense Department did not rally around the C-17. More busy work for the unions and more taxes for the people. These days it is called DEBT. John Greet CHARLIE: Good news on Boeing's planning efforts, if true. But plans can change and can also be scrapped altogether. Boeing will only build the aircraft the world is willing to buy and less and less the world seems interested US-built airlifters. Perhaps that will change and I will hope that it does. But Boeing corporate strategy for the past ten years at least seems to have been, with the notable exception of the 787, to gradually but methodically divest itself from the commercial aircraft manufacturing business (at least in Long Beach) and focus more on its other Units; Integrated Defense Systems and Boeing Capital Corp. Whatever Boeing's long term strategies are, its current Long Beach and area employees would be well advised to start doing some strategic planning of their own. Ross Like I said in my previous post, the UK is buying another c-17. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE5BE1W020091215?type=marketsNews CHARLIE Well, John, I hear what your saying but neither of us are a prophet so can only read the signs of Boeing's history. Right now we have the good news of ten C-17's newly approved order and improvements being made for possible reorders in the future; Optimistically speaking, let's hope and enjoy it while we can until someone throws it under the bus. Ron Miller I was part of the original T-1 flight line delivery team, My flight line electrical crew members were top notched McDouglas employees, when Boeing came in I was already out but I did see the results of the long beach facility after Boeing took control, they basically shut the place down and now it looks like the C-17 plant is on it's way out. this will be a sad day for So Cal once the meca for aircraft development and manufacturing.
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LBPOST.com Managing Editor Ryan ZumMallen keeps up on all the current and breaking Long Beach news.
Ryan ZumMallen has served as the managing editor of the LBPOST.com since 2007. He graduated from CSULB with a degree in Print Journalism in 2008 and is a member of the 2009 class of Leadership Long Beach. You can find him on various basketball courts around the city.
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