Boeing deploys blade-fold system

Boeing Integrated Defense Systems teammates in Mesa, Ariz., have delivered a new AH-64 Apache helicopter blade-fold system requested by the U.S. Army. In four months, the project went from idea to fielded system. The blade fold speeds and eases the deployment of Apaches. In April, the U.S. Army demonstrated that by using the blade-fold system (shown at right) it could deploy Apaches from Fort Hood, Texas, to the Middle East in as little as 66 hours—the time from notification to operation in the field.

Boeing software automates Qantas Airways hangar operations
Qantas Airways has taken delivery of Boeing's Visual Security Operations Console at Sydney Airport in Australia. Qantas will use it to monitor and record 747 and 767 maintenance activities while the jetliners are parked at a Qantas maintenance facility.

Space and Intelligence Systems Washington Operations, the former Autometric group, has installed 3D visualization software and associated hardware that will provide real-time situational awareness as part of an automated maintenance system at the Qantas hub. The VSOC system interfaces with 60 video cameras positioned at various locations in the hangar and incorporates data from a laser identification system that tracks the arrival and departure of aircraft scheduled for maintenance.

Qantas, already a world leader in aviation safety, is deploying VSOC primarily to monitor and prevent foreign object damage of its aircraft fleet. The technology also provides a visual record of all activities at the maintenance hangar for improved physical security of the area.

VSOC provides an intuitive user interface for selecting cameras and viewing the arrival and departure of aircraft at the hangar in real-time. A green 3D icon will be visible for each aircraft that has been properly identified. A red 3D icon will indicate that an aircraft is present, but has yet to be identified.

Boeing going public with Puget Sound gift stores
Boeing Stores Inc. celebrated the grand opening of its expanded locations at the Longacres and Renton, Wash., sites in June.

The event was held to recognize image and operational improvements to select stores at company locations in the Puget Sound area.

The Boeing Store in the main lobby of the 25-01 Longacres Flight Center building has been given a new face-lift from recent expansion. In Everett's 40-92 building next to a branch of the Boeing Employees Credit Union, a new kiosk has been built that will display and sell an assortment of merchandise.

The biggest change involves the Renton store, where the east side of the building now has a covered public street entrance and small coffee shop directly facing Park Avenue.

Mikal Wasch, senior manager of Boeing Stores Inc., said the effort is part of a larger move across the company to stabilize Boeing Stores' business performance, improve customer satisfaction and provide an experience in keeping with the Boeing name and reputation.

"Last year we made great strides in enhancing our business practices and operations including staff, equipment and approach," Wasch said.

Another goal is in making the Boeing Store a strategic partner and supplier of choice for Boeing-branded merchandise companywide. This includes such programs as Pride@Boeing, Service Awards, Executive Gifting, internal clubs, special aviation events and air shows.

E-commerce sales also are expected to increase from last year.

Visit the Boeing Store Web site at www.boeingstore.com

Business Solutions creative talent sweeps international competition
Six entries from Boeing designers, writers, and editors from the Business Solutions Creative Services organization have won honors at the Society for Technical Communication international competition in Atlanta.

Employees from the Graphics and Writing and Editing departments of Creative Services work together to provide a wide variety of promotional and technical materials, and their talent and creativity paid off in this recognition from the Society for Technical Communication, a 25,000-member international organization. It includes technical writers, editors, graphic designers, multimedia artists, web and intranet designers, and translators.

Entries are judged on criteria such as design, content, copyediting, technical execution, and achievement of purpose.

Jackson joins national group
Vernell Jackson, vice president of Supply Chain Services in Shared Services Group, has joined the board of directors of the National Minority Supplier Development Council.

The NMSDC is a national organization that links minority-owned businesses directly to corporate America. Boeing has been a corporate member for more than 25 years and plays an active role in many of the NMSDC's regional affiliates.

Houston employees spread peanut butter hospitality
Several Boeing NASA Systems employees can now add one more thing to their experience list: making peanut butter.

A team of volunteers took over the Welfare Services Cannery in northwest Houston recently to turn out nearly 5,000 28-ounce jars of peanut butter that were distributed at no cost to area food banks, low-income families and non-profit organizations. Volunteers completed the entire canning process from mixing, to filling jars, to stacking pallets and cleaning up.

Randy Ellis, Welfare Services Cannery facilitator and canning manager, said peanut butter is a valuable resource to food banks because it is an inexpensive source of protein for those in need.

Paul Diggins, project director for transitions, Boeing Space Shuttle program office, was responsible for loading the peanuts into the mixer to be processed into peanut butter.

"For me, it was about helping the community," Diggins said.

"You work hard, and at the end, there are tons of food that people are going to be able to eat and not go hungry," he said.

From peanut butter to painting, teams of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems volunteers in Houston have donated more than 2,500 hours in the community and supported more than 30 volunteer projects in 2003.

—Amanda Gray

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