BOEING FRONTIERS / DECEMBER 2013–JANUARY 2014 19 Boeing’s innovative new delivery centers were designed with the customer in mind Scott Collins, manager of Fleet Projects for Qantas, said the “state-of-the-art facility” had the flexibility to meet the needs of the owner and operator, as well as its regulator, Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority. “It also provided a spectacular place for our official delivery ceremony and to launch our first delivery flight with over 50 media and VIP guests on board back to Australia, providing them an unforgettable experience,” Collins said. Delivery centers complete the final stage of airplane acquisition. After leaving the factory, each plane moves to the delivery center and enters the preflight and delivery process, which includes painting and weighing, initial fueling, engine runs, heavy checks and then a “B-1,” or first flight. These are followed by a customer walk-through of their new airplane, a customer acceptance flight, “ticketing,” or Federal Aviation Administration and government certification, and the actual aircraft delivery. While Boeing delivers hundreds of commercial airplanes every year, each one is special to the company and the customer. The new delivery facilities are center stage for the ceremony, pomp and celebration that often attend major deliveries. “It’s a place for business, but it’s also a place for celebration,” said Adam Daniels, Site Services project administrator, who was part of the Shared Services Group team that managed construction of the North Charleston center. The architecture of both delivery centers rises to the occasion with regionally themed designs and extensive use of glass, designed to create an open, “embrace the plane” concept. Although the Everett center is three times larger than the North Charleston facility, both offer expanded food and event facilities and boarding bridges that provide customers direct airplane access. “The covered entryways, event space and direct access to their airplanes—in any kind of weather—really resonates with customers, making our ability to meet and exceed their expectations that much easier,” Callaghan said. Apart from the glamour and pomp, deliveries are high-stakes business transactions. Customers expect their airplanes on time and without delays
Frontiers December 2013—January 2014 Issue
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