HSV potential city for relocation of Boeing jetliner facility (Huntsville: find a job, airplane)

[lindy112]

Story about Huntsville and its possible opportunity on a WA news channel:

Huntsville has brain and manpower to compete for 777X | KING5.com Seattle

[dijkstra]

Originally Posted by Seth Parker

With all that said, I'm beginning to feel more and more like they'll stay in Washington. If they do move, I think HSV has an edge over everyone that's assumed to be going after them.

It all depends on what the union does. Boeing isn't bluffing. They will move out of Washington to reduce costs. They have been battling with the stubborn greedy union for a while now and have to make changes to compete with Airbus. If the union doesn't take them serious and stands their grounds, Boeing is out of there. They don't have to look far to find other examples of this. Goodyear has had the same battles with unions, closed plants and moved operations numerous times. Right here in Huntsville we have lost jobs due to unions. Some that come to mind off the top of my head are Dunlop, Chrysler and Onan.

Even if the union gives in and works a deal with Boeing to stay, I predict Boeing will end up moving in the future after union contract negotiations fail. The union WILL drive them out of Washington, the only question is how soon. From Boeing's perspective, sooner would be better than later as it will cost more to make the move the longer they wait and their analysts know all of that.

Huntsville has a really good chance at landing the 777X. We have a long standing relationship with Boeing, we have the Engineers and high tech brain power already here, we have the workforce to fill the factory and they already own land here.

[AU HSV]

Huntsville's biggest hurdle is aldot. Major road improvements would have to be made quickly and aldont has shown they will not start any projects in the metro. When a simple already funded overpass is 20 year behind schedule that spells trouble.
I-565 lane additions, I-565 extended to Decatur/US 31, interchange improvements at County Line, Wall Triana, Huntsville International, Greenbrier and new interchange at Zierdt would all have to be seriously considered.

[Reactionary]

AU HSV - if Boeing, then ALDOT would have a big fire lit under their butts to get the infrastructure improvements done, else the Cities / Counties affected would arrange for the improvements themselves. Huntsville hasn't let ALDOT stop them on some projects and for something this big there is no way that roads / docks / etc will delay the project. Boeing is on a fairly tight schedule.

[Maya Blue]

Originally Posted by Reactionary

AU HSV - if Boeing, then ALDOT would have a big fire lit under their butts to get the infrastructure improvements done, else the Cities / Counties affected would arrange for the improvements themselves. Huntsville hasn't let ALDOT stop them on some projects and for something this big there is no way that roads / docks / etc will delay the project. Boeing is on a fairly tight schedule.

They are called ALDONT for a reason...

[Reactionary]

Yeah, but Governor Dr. Love himself would grab a shovel if that's what it took to get Boeing...

[Maya Blue]

Originally Posted by Reactionary

Yeah, but Governor Dr. Love himself would grab a shovel if that's what it took to get Boeing...

They don't answer to anyone.

[Seth Parker]

Originally Posted by dijkstra

It all depends on what the union does. Boeing isn't bluffing. They will move out of Washington to reduce costs. They have been battling with the stubborn greedy union for a while now and have to make changes to compete with Airbus. If the union doesn't take them serious and stands their grounds, Boeing is out of there. They don't have to look far to find other examples of this. Goodyear has had the same battles with unions, closed plants and moved operations numerous times. Right here in Huntsville we have lost jobs due to unions. Some that come to mind off the top of my head are Dunlop, Chrysler and Onan.

Even if the union gives in and works a deal with Boeing to stay, I predict Boeing will end up moving in the future after union contract negotiations fail. The union WILL drive them out of Washington, the only question is how soon. From Boeing's perspective, sooner would be better than later as it will cost more to make the move the longer they wait and their analysts know all of that.

Huntsville has a really good chance at landing the 777X. We have a long standing relationship with Boeing, we have the Engineers and high tech brain power already here, we have the workforce to fill the factory and they already own land here.

I don't think Boeing is bluffing in the least. There's plenty of precedent set forth by them and other companies to make a move like that, not to mention Boeing's history of financially responsible (or whatever term you'd like to use there) moves. I just think that they're using the leverage of a potential move to get a better union deal that suits them. If they don't get one that suits them.....I have no doubt that they're willing to make a move.

I agree with everything you said, though.

[Seth Parker]

Originally Posted by AU HSV

Huntsville's biggest hurdle is aldot. Major road improvements would have to be made quickly and aldont has shown they will not start any projects in the metro. When a simple already funded overpass is 20 year behind schedule that spells trouble.
I-565 lane additions, I-565 extended to Decatur/US 31, interchange improvements at County Line, Wall Triana, Huntsville International, Greenbrier and new interchange at Zierdt would all have to be seriously considered.

One thing that I'm very confident in is Alabama/HSV's ability to initiate and complete the required infrastructure to get the Boeing 777x. Don't get me wrong, ALDOT has dropped the ball numerous times......but I think we'd be ok here.

[FTG-05]

Originally Posted by LCTMadison

The last time the WA unions bucked up to Boeing like this in 2009, they moved production of the 787 to Charleston.

Charleston has what Boeing would need to move the 777. HSV does as well (landwise).

Local government and union is what is CURRENTLY pushing them out of WA state.

Do you even stop to consider how much Boeing would save by not having to deal with these unions? I don't think you quite understand how these forced unions operate up there.

No they didn't; they opened a 2nd production line in SC, not move all 787 production.


A year or so ago when I still worked for Boeing, they did a lot of interesting site work on their 300 acres just north of the current Jetplex. There was a lot of speculation at the time, most of it centered around a comment one of the execs made about helicopter production. It eventually died down, but I wonder if this 777X program move was part of that site work.