NEW YORK–Alcoa (NYSE:AA) today congratulated the employees of Boeing on reaching
an historic milestone in commercial aviation: the production of the 1000th
Boeing 777 airplane. The Boeing 777 was launched in October 1990 with an
order from United Airlines and since has become one of the most
successful programs in aviation history.
“We are proud to have been a part of the Boeing 777 program since its
inception through to this historic moment… and beyond,” said Olivier
Jarrault, Group President Alcoa Engineered Products and Solutions and
leader of Alcoa’s aerospace market team. “With a backlog of almost 400
planes – and many, many more orders likely to come for this successful
program – we look forward to continuing to deliver high-value solutions
that increase fuel efficiency and lower operating and maintenance costs.
“We will continue working with Boeing to innovate for current and next
variants within the program, including identifying applications across
multiple areas of the airplane where our newest aluminum lithium alloys
can increase fuel efficiency even further, while also lowering operating
costs and production risk,” said Jarrault.
There are approximately three million parts in a Boeing 777 provided by
500 suppliers from around the world. Alcoa supplies a variety of
materials from wing tip to wing tip and nose to tail to help make the
777 one of the most reliable airplanes in the industry, including:
-
More than 280,000 pounds of sheet and plate products for critical
fuselage and wing structures; -
Extrusions used in wing and fuselage stringers, spar caps, seat tracks
and keel beams; -
Forgings used in wheel components and structural wing box components
such as structural frames and landing gear components; -
Nearly one million fasteners, including internally and externally
threaded, holding key elements of the airplane together; and -
Advanced single crystal, high pressure turbine airfoils used in the
GE90-115B, the exclusive engine for the extended range Boeing 777
models, as well as low pressure turbine airfoils, thermal barrier
coatings and titanium structural components within the engine and
airframe.
Alcoa supplies parts to the 777 from the following locations: Tucson and
Chandler, Arizona; Carson, City of Industry, Fullerton, Newbury Park,
Simi Valley, Sylmar, and Torrance, Calif.; Branford, CT; Lafayette, IN;
Davenport, Iowa; Whitehall, Michigan; Dover, NJ; Cleveland, Ohio;
Morristown, Tenn.; and Wichita Falls, TX; and Hampton, VA.
The 1000th Boeing 777 is a 300ER (extended range) model and
will be delivered to Dubai-based Emirates in March. Boeing has responded
to strong customer demand by introducing six 777 models. Alcoa has been
a part of the growth of the 777 family and looks forward to supporting
future Boeing 777 innovations as a result of positive response from
airlines and air passengers around the world. For more information on
the Boeing 777, visit www.boeing.com/commercial/777family/.
About Alcoa Aerospace
Alcoa Aerospace is comprised of four businesses with operations across
the world totaling approximately $3.4 billion in revenues and #1 share
positions in their markets: Alcoa Global Rolled Products and Alcoa
Forgings and Extrusions serving the structures market; and Alcoa
Fastening Systems and Alcoa Power and Propulsion. Alcoa’s aerospace
solutions run from nose to tail and from wing-tip to wing-tip. Alcoa has
been at the forefront of every major milestone in aerospace history
based on its commitment to continually innovate and a “beyond materials”
philosophy – where materials, structures, and designs work in concert to
provide optimal solutions for customers. And the Company has recently
expanded its capabilities to produce aluminum lithium in three locations
across the world.
About Alcoa
Alcoa is the world’s leading producer of primary and fabricated
aluminum, as well as the world’s largest miner of bauxite and refiner of
alumina. In addition to inventing the modern-day aluminum industry,
Alcoa innovation has been behind major milestones in the aerospace,
automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial
transportation, consumer electronics and industrial markets over the
past 120 years. Among the solutions Alcoa markets are flat-rolled
products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, as well as Alcoa® wheels,
fastening systems, precision and investment castings, and building
systems in addition to its expertise in other light metals such as
titanium and nickel-based super alloys. Sustainability is an integral
part of Alcoa’s operating practices and the product design and
engineering it provides to customers. Alcoa has been a member of the Dow
Jones Sustainability Index for 10 consecutive years and approximately 75
percent of all of the aluminum ever produced since 1888 is still in
active use today. Alcoa employs approximately 61,000 people in 31
countries across the world. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com.