The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced a contract with Aernnova (formerly Gamesa Aeron�utica) of Vitoria, Spain, to help design fuselage and wing sections for the Boeing 747-8.
MADRID – Aernnova’s contract on the 747-8 program will run through mid 2008. Aernnova engineers will assist Boeing on the 747-8 primary wing structure and on the forward fuselage section between the wing and nose.
„We are delighted to have Aernnova join the 747-8 program,“ said Corky Townsend, chief project engineer, 747-8 program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. „The team of Aernnova has been a great partner in past Boeing programs. As Gamesa Aeronautica, the company made key contributions to the 747 Large Cargo Freighter in the swing zone area. In addition, this contract further strengthens our relationships with the Spanish aerospace industry.“
Aernnova is the first Spanish supplier to support the 747-8 program. Approximately 80 engineers from Aernnova will work on the 747-8 program. Aernnova engineers will be based at Boeings Everett, Wash., facility, as well as at Aernnova�s facilities in Madrid and Vitoria.
„We are extremely pleased to participate in this great Boeing project,“ said Ignacio Lopez Gandsegui, executive president of Aernnova.
„This agreement confirms our engineering capabilities and technological potential. It is also a consolidation of our relationship with Boeing.“
Additional Information
747-8 Family: The 747-8 is a family of passenger and freighter airplanes that serves the market for airplanes of 400 seats and larger. The 747-8 Intercontinental passenger airplane seats 450 passengers in a typical three-class configuration and offers the lowest seat-mile cost of any passenger airplane. It provides operators a 14,815-km (8,000-nmi) range, 21 percent greater cargo volume and 9 percent lower seat-mile costs compared to the 747-400. The 747-8 Freighter will fly 8,275 km (4,475 nmi) with a maximum structural payload capacity of 140 metric tonnes (154 tons). It offers 16 percent more revenue cargo volume than the 747-400F with slightly greater range. The 747-8 Freighter upholds its predecessor�s legendary efficiency, with equivalent trip costs and 15 percent lower ton-mile costs than the 747-400F. The 747-8 Freighter will enjoy the lowest ton-mile costs of any freighter, giving operators unmatched profit potential. The first 747-8 Freighter will be delivered to launch customer Cargolux in late 2009.
Aernnova: Aernnova was previously the aeronautical branch of the Gamesa Group and was known as Gamesa Aeron�utica. The company recently became an independent entity with new shareholders. It is a technology-focused company dedicated to the design, manufacturing and supply of advanced products, facilities and services in aerospace. Its aerospace activities are focused on designing, developing and producing large structural assemblies or complete aircraft parts as well as manufacturing of metallic and advanced composite material components. The company has about 2,700 employees and companies in Spain, Brazil and US.
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