Posted on 02/02/2006 12:52:51 PM PST by Paleo Conservative
Isn't that something? And yet there are gloom-n-doom types here on FR who say American manufacturing is done for and that we'd better get used to flipping each others' hamburgers.
and have a tag plate on your car saying " If it ain't BOEING I ain't GOING " .
I guess jet locomotives didn't go over that well, huh.
Hi, Prophet, nice to hear from you! It looks like you resurrected this thread. Yes, looks like Boeing had a banner year on the commercial side! Thanks for the ping.
"American manufacturing"?
...Boeing already has approval to use airframe suppliers in Japan, Korea, France and Italy, it still needs a federal OK to share technology with a Chinese company tagged to build the 787 tail rudder. Boeing wants to use the supplier, based in Chengdu, to encourage airplane sales in China.Boeing is up to its wingtips in outsourcing to China. "American manufacturing" my ass.[...]
If Boeing fails to get an export license for Chengdu, it will have to build the 787 rudder elsewhere, perhaps in-house in its Frederickson plant in Pierce County or with a different supplier. As part of its scrutiny, the Commerce Department is examining Boeing's conduct in previous technology transfers to China.
[...]
Peter Lichtenbaum, acting undersecretary for Industry and Security in the Commerce Department, testified before a congressional commission that China poses a problem because of concerns about modernization of its military and the risk of using U.S. technology to do so.
Boeing last year announced deals with Chinese suppliers worth more than $600 million, including one with Chengdu Aircraft Industry, part of a state-owned aerospace group, to supply the 787 rudder. Chinese airlines subsequently ordered 60 of the new jets, the largest aggregate order to date.
The 787 rudder, like the rest of the airframe, is to be made from advanced carbon-fiber composite plastic. This material, while commonly used in military airplanes and missile applications, is increasingly used in commercial jets.
[...]
In his June testimony, Lichtenbaum mentioned the Chengdu company and its potential to produce "composite-based parts, components, and sections (e.g., rudders) for commercial aircraft."
He said applications to license composite materials "will be denied if there is sufficient information to indicate the items could be diverted to military end-users or third countries."
Boeing's past behavior is also under inspection. The State Department has already prepared charges that the company violated export-control law in the 2003 foreign sales of 737s containing a gyroscopic chip classified as a defense item.
And internal company documents obtained by The Seattle Times show that the Commerce Department is looking into whether Boeing has already provided restricted technology to Chengdu — without an export license.
In addition, Commerce is examining whether Boeing has violated the terms of earlier export licenses for BHA Aero Composite Parts, a plant in Tianjin that opened in 2001, which is a joint venture with Hexcel and state-run China Aviation Industry. BHA produces about 200 parts for Boeing, including the 737 trailing edge, interior panels for the 777, and the wing-to-body fairing panels and tail cone for the 737.
Source Commerce officials visited Boeing's composite-manufacturing center in Frederickson near Tacoma in July to assess the 787 rudder manufacturing plan and had plans to travel to Chengdu and other Chinese facilities last month.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.