Liftin' Off with the President's New Plane Saga: Boeing's Struggle to Deliver Air Force One
Air Force One Project Mishap: Boeing Failed Delivery, Missed Deadline, and Paved Way for Qatar's Jet Proposal
Get the lowdown on what's been holding back Boeing from delivering the our new Air Force One planes, complete with all the juicy deets.
The pressure's on Boeing to produce two new presidential jets for Air Force One, but not all's going to plan. From struggling to hold onto high-clearance employees to dealing with a slew of setbacks, it's been a bumpy ride so far.
When Donald Trump hinted he'd take a free Qatari jet as the new Air Force One, everyone wanted to know: what's the deal with the holdup?
Originally, Boeing was supposed to drop off two revamped 747s last year to swap out the aging Air Force One jets that've been in service since the days of President George H.W. Bush. But the project's come up short – way short – with years wasted and billions blown.
No comment from Boeing on the situation.
Ba-zing Your Wallet
The Air Force dropped $3.9 billion on Boeing for two super-customized 747-8s back in 2018, with the agreement that Boeing, not taxpayers, would cover any extra costs. These planes were jammed with state-of-the-art defenses, communications, anti-missile protection, hacking defense, and capabilities to fly during nuclear nightmares.
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Kept Your Money, Uncle Sam
Lost more than $2.5 billion so far on the project? Ouch.
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"Delays or additional costs for projects? It's par for the course," said Abigail Hall Blanco, a wiz on defense economics at the University of Tampa.
If the government kicked the contract to the curb, who'd be out what? Uncertain, said Blanco.
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"The government's got lots of say in canceling defense contracts," she said. "But contractors may still haggle for cash for work they've already completed."
The Speed Bumps
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Why's the project so delayed?
Boeing's tossed out some reasons for the hold-up – from a key supplier going bankrupt to staffing shortages and supply chain blues due to the pandemic. Then there's the issue of securing highly-qualified workers with the proper clearances – fewer peeps, more strain, and that impacts the timeline.
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Just recently, Acting Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics for the Air Force Darlene Costello spilled that the delays come from "issues with interiors supplier transition, manpower limitations, and wiring design completion."
Landing Time?
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The Air Force and Boeing say they're aiming for 2027, but a White House estimation last month pushed that back to 2029 – fingers crossed for '24, amirite?
Meanwhile, the Air Force's trying to bump up production speed, even waiving some security clearance requirements for workers. But a couple of 'remaining issues' still need to be ironed out between Boeing and the government, says Costello.
From Headache to (Potential) Relief?
Is the offer of a free Qatari 787 jet the solution Boeing's been waiting for? Experts say retrofitting the jet for presidential use would be a massive endeavor – closer to the ballpark of $900 million and years in the making.
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The plane would need a full overhaul, with modifications like secure communications systems, missile defenses, aerial refueling capacities, protection against electromagnetic pulses, and electronic jamming countermeasures. Oh, and Miley Cyrus wouldn't hurt, either. Just kidding – Boeing's probably the team for that task.
Would defense contractor L3Harris do the job instead? Possibly, but Boeing's justification for help might give 'em a boost, said Blanco. "Accepting that jet could be like piling one more lemon on Boeing's lemonade stand," she said. "The mess they're dealing with on this contract? This could be the cherry on top."
The economy and finance are both factors in the ongoing Air Force One saga, with the projected cost of the new aircraft skyrocketing and potential implications for public funds. Abigail Hall Blanco, a defense economics expert, stated, "Delays or additional costs for projects? It's par for the course," indicating that such issues are common in finance and economy dynamics associated with defense contracts. Furthermore, the discussion revolving around the assumption that the Qatari jet could potentially replace the delayed Air Force One planes, raising questions about financial compensation and potential contract negotiations.
