Boeing considers sale of huge Wichita plant | Seattle Times

[Ediacara]

Boeing considers sale of huge Wichita plant

By Dominic Gates
Seattle Times aerospace reporter


JOHN LOK / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Fred Ogbodo works on the interior of a 737 cockpit at the Boeing manufacturing plant in Wichita, Kan. Boeing, the largest private employer in Kansas, may sell the plant that employs about 12,400 workers

WICHITA, Kan. — Boeing is exploring the sale of its 75-year-old manufacturing facility in Wichita, a complex nearly as big as its Everett plant.

The potential sale is outlined in an internal strategic-planning document provided to The Seattle Times by a company insider. The document — key elements of which are supported by sources inside and close to the company — presents a long-range vision that maintains Boeing's strong role in the Puget Sound area, while shrinking its presence throughout the rest of the country.

The timing of any sale was unclear in the document, and no potential buyers were named.

The Wichita plant, which employs about 12,400 people, houses the largest chunk left of aircraft-component manufacturing within Boeing. Its sale would be the most dramatic move yet in the company's stated mission to reduce its role in the business of making plane parts.

More at the Seattle Times

[Jazzgirl]

1. I know several people in Wichita.

Depending on what happens with the plant, the results can be devastating. Hope it all works out well. Wonder who the buyers will be???

[Kellanved]

2. interesting

EADS (=Airbus) said a few weeks ago that it might relocate production ,due to the strong Euro, to Dollar-countries. But Boeing selling to Airbus sounds too strange anyway.

[dArKeR]

3. 30 to 40 Wichita families each week are losing their homes at sheriff's

Home foreclosures in aviation-dependent Wichita have soared in the past two years as more families struggle to make ends meet in this hard-hit manufacturing community.


On average, 30 to 40 Wichita families each week are losing their homes at sheriff's auctions in the Sedgwick County Courthouse.

http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/business/7211303.htm

[Sentath]

4. Went to college there

Wichita 'the air capital' has always (my lifetime anyway) been way to dependent on the vagaries of the airlines.

The Wict. economy isn't a leading indicator. In fact, they tend to lag a bit as people use up their savings & pawn some of their disposable luxuries before adjusting their quality of life. But, it is like a seismograph with the gain turned way up. You can see the footsteps of the large movers and shakers.

[banana republican]

5. boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing

boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing

[OneTwentyoNine]

6. In this crap economy who's the buyer??

I live in Wichita,this em..."rumor" has gone around more than once--and this might be it. But hell,who would buy the damn thing?

To say the plant is huge is putting it mildly. At one time during the 50's and the cold War there were more than 35,000 people working at that plant,if that gives you a clue as to how large the place is.

Lemme see,IF Boeing sells to someone they will then become just another sub contractor to Boeing. Boeing carries the note,gives the buyers low,low interest on the loan. Of course the new owner busts all the unions and you now have 12,000 workers making about $6.00 or 7.00 per hour instead of double or triple that amount.

Sure... that will be highly touted as "good for the Wichita economy" by local press and radio. Yeah? Bullshit..it means 12,000 more making a bit more than working down at Walmart. The only part of the economy they contribute to is Krogers,Food for Less and the closest gas station.


David