Vought overcomes setbacks

The Vought Aircraft plant in North Charleston has completed and delivered its seventh rear fuselage section for the Boeing 787 — the first that will be used on a commercial flight.

The previous six units that the company has made locally were strictly for testing purposes.

Elmer Doty, chief executive of Dallas-based Vought Aircraft Industries Inc., called the recently achieved milestone a "very exciting accomplishment" for the company and its factory at Charleston International Airport.

He said the barrel-shaped fuselage was transported to the Boeing Co.'s assembly plant near Seattle a few weeks ago nearly 100 percent finished and was of "excellent quality."

"We continue to show solid improvement in execution of that program," Doty said in a conference call Thursday.

The local Vought plant has been getting back on its feet after several setbacks.

In recent months, it has been recalling workers who were sent home when it ceased production in North Charleston last November as a result of a two-month strike at Boeing and a rash of manufacturing glitches that have delayed the 787 launch by about two years.

But for all the improvements on the North Charleston production line, Doty said, the Dreamliner contract "overall remains a very fluid and challenging effort for Vought."

He noted that the financial impact of the production delays and various engineer-ing changes stemming from the new airplane "are significant for a company of our size."

"Our ability to successfully respond to the unforeseen challenges of this program requires a close and constant working relationship with Boeing at all levels," Doty said. "Fortunately we have that working relationship and continue to work through the technical and financial challenges in a manner designed to ensure success of the program."

The 787 is unlike most commercial airplanes, partly because it is made from lightweight composite materials instead of aluminum.

Its other main distinction is that most of the major components are being built by vendors all over the world, a strategy that so far has backfired on Boeing because of the numerous kinks that have cropped up in the supply chain.

But the launch of the hot-selling passenger jetliner appears to be getting back on track. Boeing plans to send the plane on its inaugural test flight by June 30. The first delivery is set for early 2010.

The company said its has received orders for 886 aircraft from 57 customers.