In a milestone for Boeing South Carolina, local employees have delivered the first North Charleston-assembled 787-9 Dreamliner to United Airlines.
“In 2012, we delivered our first South Carolina-built 787-8, and less than three years later, we’re celebrating another significant milestone — our first 787-9 delivery,” Beverly Wyse, Boeing South Carolina's new vice president and general manager, said in a news release.
Boeing South Carolina will also be the sole producer and assembler for the 787-10 beginning in 2017
Outgoing Boeing South Carolina Vice President Jack Jones, who will officially transfer leadership to Wyse in May when he retires, has said the first S.C.-assembled 787-9 would be delivered in the first half of 2015.
Employees of Boeing's South Carolina facility began fabrication, assembly and integration of the aft and mid fuselage sections for its first 787-9 in the first quarter of 2013. Those sections were delivered to final assembly in Everett, Wash.
In November 2014, work began on the first S.C.-built 787-9 when the first aft and mid sections were delivered to Boeing South Carolina Final Assembly.
The airplane rolled out to the flight line in North Charleston in January and has been taking test flights since February.
This is the fourth 787-9 for United Airlines, in addition to the 12 787-8s the airline has in service. United Airlines was the first North American carrier to fly the 787-8 and 787-9, in 2012 and 2014, respectively. American Airlines is the only other confirmed U.S. carrier ordering Dreamliners.
“Our customers have told us they love flying on the Dreamliner, and we’re excited to mark yet another first for the aircraft with this delivery from Boeing South Carolina,” United Vice President of Fleet Ron Baur said in a news release.
This delivery marks a milestone for the company as the 250th Dreamliner delivered to a customer. The news also comes a day after the Machinists union filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to potentially hold an election at Boeing South Carolina.
The political landscape in South Carolina does not open its arms to unions — Gov. Nikki Haley publicly speaks against them and the state maintains the third-lowest unionization rate in the country — and Boeing leadership is strongly opposed to unionization of the local plant. Union leaders are optimistic an election will be held and hope to unionize the facility.
These tensions are growing as employees increase production rates and hit delivery goals.
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