Boeing Picks South Carolina for Dreamliner Assembly Plant

Boeing is getting ready to put the pedal to the metal to accelerate production of the stalled 787 Dreamliner. A second final assembly plant will be built in North Charleston, SC. The new plant, expected to be operational in mid-2011, will also have the capability to support the testing and delivery of the airplanes.

“Establishing a second 787 assembly line in Charleston will expand our production capability to meet the market demand for the airplane,” said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “This decision allows us to continue building on the synergies we have established in South Carolina with Boeing Charleston and Global Aeronautica,” he said.

Boeing Charleston performs fabrication, assembly and systems installation for the 787 aft fuselage sections. Across the street, Global Aeronautica, which is 50 percent owned by Boeing, is responsible for joining and integrating 787 fuselage sections from other structural partners.

The State of South Carolina is issuing bonds to defray construction costs and is also waiving sales tax for jet fuel on test flights and some construction materials. The move to South Carolina is a rebuke to the aircraft machinists union, which has been at odds with Boeing.  The move also signals a move to try to improve consolidation of Dreamliner production.

The photo shows the site for the new Dreamliner plant in South Carolina.