Boeing planning to close C-17 production

US based aircraft manufacturer Boeing has said that they are closing in on ending the production of their giant C-17 cargo plane.

The company called this decision “regrettable but necessary”. They have failed to get a Pentagon commitment to keep the program alive.

Boeing added that closing down this program could affect as many as 7,000 Boeing jobs and up to 25,000 jobs nationwide.

They added in a statement: “Due to the lack of U.S. government and new international orders for the C-17 military cargo aircraft, the Boeing Company (BA) is stopping procurement of parts for any new C-17s not under contract or firmly committed.”

Boeing added: “This move is the first step in an orderly shutdown of the production supply chain, should no further orders be received from the U.S. government or international customers. Without further aircraft orders, significant workforce reductions will begin in early 2008 as the production line heads toward complete shutdown in mid-2009.”

They currently have orders to deliver and support 190 C-17s for the U.S. Air Force.

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