C-130 AMP signs first international customer

The Swedish air force has signed a letter of offer and acceptance to modernize its fleet of eight C-130E/H aircraft, becoming the first international customer for the Boeing C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP). The letter of offer and acceptance will lead to a foreign military sales contract between Boeing and the U.S. Air Force. The contract is expected to be completed early this summer.

"Swedish air force crews will have the most capable C-130 aircraft available and will benefit from advanced cockpit technology and commonality with the U.S. Air Force," said Pat Finneran, vice president and general manager of Aerospace Support, part of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. Finneran added that the program will also lower Sweden's total ownership costs for its C-130 fleet.

Boeing is currently modifying the first aircraft under the U.S. Air Force C-130 AMP, which is performing to plan. The first flight of this aircraft is on track for early 2006.

The first aircraft for Sweden is expected to enter modification at the Boeing Aerospace Support Center in San Antonio in 2007.

787 employees organize 'Fly to Work Day'

Five employees from the 787 and Large Cargo Freighter programs celebrated their first-ever "Fly to Work Day" on March 10 in Everett, Wash. The employees piloted kit airplanes they had built themselves to Paine Field in Everett and performed fly-bys over the Everett site. The kit plane models included Long EZs, RV-6s and an RV-4.

"Fly to Work Day" was the inspiration of Hawker de Havilland employee Wayne Blackler, a Manufacturing Engineering and Tooling focal currently supporting the 787 Program. "This is a day for those like me with their heart in aviation," he said.

Above from left are Francesco Pallozzi, an Alenia Aeronautica employee who was a passenger in a "Fly to Work" aircraft; and "Fly to Work" pilots Dean Last, Michael Drake, Blackler and Tom Staggs.

Boeing Surplus Store named a Seattle top shop

The Boeing surplus store in Kent, Wash., was named one of the best places to shop in Seattle by Northwest Home + Garden magazine. The store appears in the publication's list of "Top 123 Shops" (March/April 2005 issue) in the "Recycled Building Materials" category.

"People are amazed at the variety of materials they can find here," said store manager Scott Darlington. "We've got everything from plywood, Formica and windows to bathroom fixtures and mirrors."

Operated by Shared Services Group, the surplus store sells no-longer-needed assets from Boeing facilities in Washington and Oregon. It's open to the public four days a week and has a Web site at www.boeing.com/assocproducts/surplus/retail/index.html. Boeing employees and retirees receive a 20 percent discount on items bought for personal use.

"By selling these items, we can keep usable items out of landfills, offer items at reasonable prices to our customers and provide several million dollars a year back to the company," Darlington said.

Employee, company tsunami-relief contribution tops $4.5 million

Boeing and its employees donated more than $4.5 million for tsunami-relief efforts in Southeast Asia, the company said last month.

Immediately after the December 2004 disaster, the company committed $1 million and announced it would match employee and eligible retiree contributions to the Employees Community Fund for tsunami relief through the end of February. Employee and retiree contributions amounted to $1,809,760 as of Feb. 28. Matching employee donations dollar for dollar and retirees at
50 cents on the dollar, Boeing's match equaled $1,787,400.

"This generosity of spirit defines good citizenship in today's world," said Rick Stephens, senior vice president, Internal Services.

The American Red Cross, CARE and Mercy Corps are recipients of this contribution. Stephens said that the company remains in close contact with the three organizations and continues to receive regular updates on the progress of relief efforts.

The Employees Community Fund of The Boeing Company is the world's largest employee-directed charitable organization.

Sea Launch to mark 10th anniversary in May

Sea Launch, the world's only ocean-based commercial launch service provider, is preparing to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

Formed in May 1995, its partners include RSC Energia of Russia, SDO Yuzhnoye/PO Yuzhmash of Ukraine, and Kvaerner ASA of Norway, with Boeing participating as overall manager and 40 percent partner.

Since its inception, Sea Launch has performed 15 missions, with a 16th scheduled for late April. Its most recent launch in February was its most accurate orbital insertion of a satellite payload yet.

Sea Launch's Pacific Ocean launch platform provides commercial customers with a direct insertion into equatorial orbit, where all communications satellites are positioned, without any launch range restrictions or seasonal concerns.

Boeing to fund open-air gallery spaces in Chicago park

A Boeing grant will help fund two new outdoor exhibition spaces in Chicago's Millennium Park and an endowment that will help fund art exhibitions in the galleries.

Boeing announced the grant at a press conference on March 16 in a formal presentation by President and Chief Executive Officer James Bell (left) to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley (right).

Construction already has begun on the Boeing Galleries, which are planned to open in June. The open-air gallery spaces will feature regular exhibitions of visual arts and sculpture, primarily in the spring and summer months. Boeing is sponsoring a photographic exhibition called "Revealing Chicago: An Aerial Portrait," opening on June 10.

Boeing's decision to pursue capital investments in Chicago reflects the company's long-standing commitment to enriching the communities where its employees live and work. Examples of capital investments made in the Seattle area include those made to the Seattle Public Library, the Tacoma Art Museum, the Museum of Glass, the Museum of Flight and the Seattle Center Foundation (McCaw Hall).

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