Boeing Support Systems elated with first significant piece of nonmilitary work

Jul. 10--Boeing Support Systems in San Antonio is branching out from its military role by winning a chance to work on the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

The Boeing Co. announced Monday -- the day after unveiling the Dreamliner -- that its San Antonio facility will work on 11 of the planes. The project means 400 contract workers will be hired to supplement the current staff of 1,500.It is the first significant piece of nonmilitary work undertaken by the 9-year-old facility.

If Boeing workers here perform well on this contract, which should last about a year, there's a chance the San Antonio facility will get work on more Dreamliners before they are delivered to customers. Boeing has orders for 677 airplanes worth more than $110 billion.

"We want that (possibility) to come across to our work force," said Boeing spokeswoman Deborah VanNierop.

The contract is for at least a year, possibly more, she said, depending on how long the work takes. The duration of the contract is fluid because it's a new plane, VanNierop said.

The Dreamliner work fits in with the ultimate goal of Port San Antonio to have more private work done by the on-site aerospace contractors, who make the bulk of their living off the military.

"This meets our long-term goal to get beyond doing only military work," said Joe Krier, president and chief executive officer of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. "This statement by Boeing that we have been chosen is a real vote of confidence in San Antonio in that this is the place to do nonmilitary work." Port San Antonio President and Chief Executive Officer Bruce Miller said the military work provides a foundation for aerospace companies as they seek more private-sector work.

"This is really a very significant step that they're finally able to take," Miller said. "It proves the validity that we have a good aerospace base for them to work from." Commercial work is considered more stable, Miller said. Government contracts are constantly being re-bid, and if the workload changes, staffing has to fluctuate.

Of Boeing's 1,500 workers here, some are contract workers who can quickly be let go if the workload drops.

The first 787 should arrive in February and is scheduled for completion by May. The local facility will be doing mostly interior electrical and wiring work that will be some of the last tasks completed before the planes are delivered to their buyers.

The Dreamliner made its debut Sunday at a ceremony at Boeing's Everett, Wash., facility. The company touts it as its most technologically advanced plane to date. Up to half of the structure, including the fuselage and wings, is made of a composite material instead of aluminum -- making the plane lighter and thus more fuel-efficient.

The local Boeing facility was established in 1998 to service large military aircraft.

It is waiting to hear whether the government will renew its maintenance contract on the KC-135, an Air Force refueling plane.

Boeing's scheduled maintenance on those planes is the second-largest body of work the company does here, after its work on the C-17 Globemaster III cargo plane. News on that contract award is expected before the end of the summer.

The KC-135 contract won't affect the work force needed for the Dreamliner, VanNierop said.

"I don't think we want to move away from military aircraft," VanNierop said. "That's what we do well. We have plenty of capacity. Military only will not sustain this facility for 20 years. Going commercial certainly helps."

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