Boeing Contracts Spain’s Aernnova for Engineering Services on 747-8 Program

(Source: Boeing Co.; issued July 11, 2006)

MADRID — The Boeing Company today announced a contract with Aernnova (formerly Gamesa Aeronáutica) of Vitoria, Spain, to help design fuselage and wing sections for the Boeing 747-8. Aernnova’s contract on the 747-8 program will run through mid 2008.

Aernnova engineers will assist Boeing on the 747-8 primary wing structure and on the forward fuselage section between the wing and nose.

“We are delighted to have Aernnova join the 747-8 program,” said Corky Townsend, chief project engineer, 747-8 program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The team of Aernnova has been a great partner in past Boeing programs. As Gamesa Aeronáutica, the company made key contributions to the 747 Large Cargo Freighter in the swing zone area. In addition, this contract further strengthens our relationships with the Spanish aerospace industry.”

Aernnova is the first Spanish supplier to support the 747-8 program. Approximately 80 engineers from Aernnova will work on the 747-8 program. Aernnova engineers will be based at Boeing’s Everett, Wash., facility, as well as at Aernnova’s facilities in Madrid and Vitoria.

“We are extremely pleased to participate in this great Boeing project,” said Ignacio López Gandásegui, executive president of Aernnova. “This agreement confirms our engineering capabilities and technological potential. It is also a consolidation of our relationship with Boeing.”