DECEMBER 2015–JANUARY 2016 43 products and services. Notably, Diehl makes the LED lighting for the 787, and KUKA developed a new robotic system for building 777 fuselages that is helping improve both quality and safety at the Everett, Wash., factory, according to Ganz. Boeing also recently acquired Peters Software (based in Cologne, Germany), a market-leading provider of European Aviation Safety Agency– based training content for early stage (“ab-initio”) pilot training. Marc Allen, president of Boeing International, underscored how Boeing’s relationships in Germany affect not only its commercial models but also the process and knowledge behind them. “Germany has one of the richest traditions around manufacturing excellence and research,” Allen said. “It’s positioned itself as a world leader in additive manufacturing, Lean+ technology, automation and robotics. We need all of those strengths to build our second-century design and manufacturing capabilities.” The connection between Boeing and Germany goes all the way back to Boeing founder William Boeing’s father, Wilhelm Böing, who was born in Hagen-Hohenlimburg and emigrated to the United States in 1868. Germany also builds on a rich history of aviation pioneers such as Otto Lilienthal, the first person to make repeated, successful flights with a glider he designed, and Hugo Junkers, who developed the first successful all-metal airplane. From a commercial standpoint, Germany represents an extremely important but challenging market, said Todd Nelp, vice president of European Sales for Commercial Airplanes. Boeing delivered its first airplane to Germany—a 247 operated by Lufthansa— in 1934. Lufthansa was a launch customer for the 737, and in 2012 it became the first airline to put the 747-8 Intercontinental into revenue service. Lufthansa also was one of the first airlines to sign up for the new 777X. The Lufthansa Group includes SWISS and Austrian Airlines, the largest airlines in Switzerland and Austria, respectively. SWISS is scheduled to receive its first of nine 777-300ERs (Extended Range) in early 2016. Additionally, Air Berlin flies the 737, and TUI Group, which owns six European airlines and is headquartered in Germany, has an all-Boeing fleet. Berlin-based Germania operates the Next-Generation 737 and Condor operates the 757 and 767. Germany, an economy that is strongly based on exports, is the base for leading cargo airlines such as Lufthansa Cargo, AeroLogic and EAT/DHL Leipzig, all of which operate Boeing freighters. But Germany also is a home market of Airbus, and Boeing must differentiate itself by highlighting the performance of its airplanes, according to Nelp. “If you look at our twin-aisles,” he said, “we have the most fuel-efficient airplanes, and airplanes that have the range and capacity to do all of the missions out of Germany.” Calling Airbus a “strong and worthy competitor,” Ganz noted investments from the European company as well as the German government have created a first-class technology and production environment in the country. “It’s a wonderfully rich environment to be in, in terms of technology and skilled people,” Ganz said. “We’re not the home team, but for an aerospace manufacturer this is a part of the world that we have to be operating in and be comfortable in.” Boeing also may have an opportunity with the German military in upgrading its current heavy-lift helicopter fleet. Joe McAndrew, vice president of Europe, Israel and Central Asia, International Business Development for Boeing Defense, Space & Security, said early indications are the CH-47 Chinook would be an excellent replacement. “Whoever buys Chinooks always comes back for more,” McAndrew said, adding that it has been tested both in combat and humanitarian missions. “The product speaks for itself. Boeing is keenly interested in finding German companies to work with and to broaden our involvement in that marketplace.” Many of Boeing’s partnerships in Germany involve research and Photos: (Clockwise from top left) A street in Hagen-Hohenlimburg, the birthplace of Boeing founder Bill Boeing’s father, Wilhelm Böing, is named after the family; students sing a song dedicated to Boeing during an event celebrating the opening of a learning lab at their school in Germany. BOEING Lufthansa recognizes the 1,500th 747 built by Boeing with a special livery. SHUTTERSTOCK
Frontiers December 2015 - January 2016 Issue
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