Plugged in

Boeing workers in Seattle last month installed the multi-role electronically scanned antenna on the first 737-700 for Australia’s Project Wedgetail, an airborne early warning and control program. The Northrop Grumman–built MESA antenna, which measures 35.5 feet long (10.8 meters), is the critical sensor aboard the aircraft. The first two 737 AEW&C aircraft for Project Wedgetail are scheduled for delivery in 2006.

Boeing hosts event honoring Jordan
Boeing sponsored a reception Oct. 16 on behalf of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., served as the backdrop for the event, which featured Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah (right) as its guest of honor. She is pictured with Boeing Chairman and CEO Phil Condit, who along with other U.S. business leaders and Jordanian officials spoke earlier that day at an investment forum focusing on international trade and investment as a pathway to Jordan’s future development. In his talk, Condit discussed the factors Boeing considers when investing abroad. The investment forum and evening reception were part of a series of “Exploring Jordan” embassy events.

‘Day in the Life’ of Armed Forces photo exhibit to tour United States

It was a hit in Washington, D.C. It drew praise and turned heads in St. Louis.

Now much of the United States will get a chance to see a photo exhibit—underwritten by Boeing and produced by EpiCom Media—that pays tribute to U.S. servicemen and women. The National Tribute Tour of “A Day in the Life of the United States Armed Forces” features more than 50 compelling images, all taken on a single day at more than 100 locations around the world.

“This exhibit is a moving reminder of the courage and dedication required to defend freedom around the world 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” said Mary Foerster, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems vice president of Communications. “Boeing is extremely proud to help bring this glimpse into the lives of these true heroes.”

The National Tribute Tour begins on Nov. 8 at Seattle’s Museum of Flight, where the exhibit will be on display through Jan. 11. The tour will then continue through much of the United States next year, with stops at various cities, military academies and bases. A smaller version of the exhibit will be displayed Dec. 6 in Philadelphia in conjunction with the Army-Navy football game to be played in that city. More information on the exhibit is available at www.daymilitary.com

F-15T Strike Eagle is 1 of 3 finalists in competition for Singapore fighter

Boeing was notified last month that its F-15T Strike Eagle has been included in the proposal phase for the Republic of Singapore’s Next Fighter Replacement Program. The Strike Eagle will now compete with the Typhoon from European consortium Eurofighter and the Rafale from France’s Dassault Aviation for a purchase that may total about 20 aircraft.

“This selection reinforces the outstanding, proven performance of the Boeing F-15. We stand ready to provide Singapore whatever information is needed to support this next phase of the evaluation,” said Mike Marks, vice president and general manager of U.S. Air Force Fighter, Bomber and Weapons Programs for Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. The F-15T will be an enhanced version of the U.S. Air Force F-15E and will provide the world’s most advanced combination of avionics, self-protection and cockpit systems. Carrying payloads of up to 28,000 pounds, the F-15T is the only strike fighter in U.S. production capable of performing the long range, precision-strike mission. It also retains, and enhances, the full air-to-air capability of the F-15C.

Connexion by Boeing, Rockwell to offer connectivity to biz jets

Connexion by Boeing and Rockwell Collins last month said they are teaming up to provide new high-speed connectivity solutions for the corporate aviation market. The new service, called “Collins eXchange,” will combine the communications capabilities of the Connexion by Boeing broadband network with Rockwell Collins’ extensive experience in business aviation.

Connexion by Boeing will provide the enabling technology that provides two-way high-speed connectivity and manage the network and satellite assets, while Rockwell Collins will provide and install the antenna and manage the airborne system installation, vendor relations and customer-facing activities, including marketing and sales. Connexion by Boeing will manage sales and marketing to government customers.

Installation of the Collins eXchange systems are expected to begin in mid-2004 for commencement of service in early 2005.

Separately, the Connexion by Boeing Next-Generation Antenna system was successfully installed last month on Connexion One, a specially modified Boeing 737-400 used for research, test and demonstration. The installation of the lighter, single-aperture antenna, which will enable broadband Internet and data connectivity at high northern latitudes, marked the latest progress toward the full-scale launch of commercial service in March 2004.

Belarusian carrier’s fleet now includes a Boeing 737-500

The first Boeing 737-500 wearing the colors of the Belarusian airline Belavia landed last month at Minsk International Airport. Belavia is leasing the 104-seat airplane from International Lease Finance Corporation as part of its fleet modernization program.

“Belavia is our new customer in the former Soviet Union and we hope that the lease of this 737-500 airplane is the first step in helping to renovate this promising carrier’s fleet in Belarus,” said Craig Jones, Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president of Sales for Russia/Commonwealth of Independent States.

Sea Launch to offer land-based launches from Kazakhstan

Sea Launch is planning to offer launch services from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, in addition to its sea-based launches at the Equator. The new offering, Land Launch, is intended to meet the launch needs of commercial customers with medium-weight satellites.

The Land Launch system will use a version of the Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket to lift commercial satellites in the 2,000- to 3,500-kilogram (4,410- to 7,718- pound) range to geosynchronous transfer orbit, and heavier payloads to inclined or lower orbits. A two-stage configuration of the same rocket will also be available for launching heavy payloads, or groups of payloads, to low Earth orbits. Payloads and vehicles will be processed and launched from existing Zenit facilities at the Baikonur launch site in Kazakhstan.

“Land Launch represents a major opportunity for Sea Launch to expand its role in the commercial space transportation arena,” said Jim Maser, president and general manager of Sea Launch. “We responded to the need for cost-efficiency and schedule assurance in the heavy-lift market. Now, through our Land Launch offering, we are responding to the demand for reliable, single payload capabilities in the medium-weight payload market.”

Initial launch capability is slated for the fourth quarter of 2005.

Boeing is one of four international partners in Sea Launch.

Boeing Air Traffic Management awarded ISO 9001:2000 certification

The International Organization for Standardization has certified Boeing Air Traffic Management as meeting or exceeding its requirements for quality management systems. While numerous Boeing sites are ISO certified, ATM is the first Boeing business unit certified to the ISO 9001:2000 standard.

“We are very proud to receive this important certification because it means that independent experts have put our business under a microscope and determined that we have the management processes in place to ensure quality products and services,” said John Hayhurst, president of ATM.

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