Project Could Launch In Next Two Years

Earlier this week, Boeing formally named an initial planning team tasked with a perhaps unenviable task, akin to reinventing the wheel. They are the team that will lead development on a replacement for the venerable 737 (a -900 is shown below).

The Seattle Times reports Boeing announced on its internal website Tuesday that Mike Cave, vice president for airplane programs, will direct the team.

"The Next-Generation 737 is a wonderful airplane with a strong future in the marketplace; the challenge of dramatically improving on its proven economy, performance and reliability is a daunting task and one that will take considerable innovation," Cave said on the Boeing site.

In addition to Cave, the development team is comprised of Carolyn Brandsema, director of engineering for the 737/MMA program; Kent Fisher, a marketing VP in the commercial-airplane division; 787 program-management team member Don Moon; and Rod Wheeler, director of finance estimating and planning in the commercial-airplanes division.

Boeing has at least been considering a 737 replacement for some time, with commercial airplanes CEO Alan Mulally commenting in December such an aircraft would enter service between 2012 and 2015.

With current iterations of the 40-year-old aircraft still selling well, however, the company has been reluctant to announce firm plans for a true next-generation airplane -- as customers considering a new 737 might decide to hold out for the new aircraft.

So, even as it made the announcement of the initial team to its employees, Boeing was quick to downplay the move. "Someday both the Next-Generation 737 and the (Airbus) A320 will need to be replaced, but so far we have not found a more compelling airplane for the single-aisle market," Cave said in his statement. "Until we do, we will continue to invest in the Next-Generation 737."

At this point, little concrete is known about the 737 replacement project, other than what would be common sense deductions. It will be a single-aisle aircraft, twin-engined, and will likely utilize composites in much the same manner as Boeing's upcoming 787 Dreamliner.

It is also likely the new aircraft would be more dependant on outside suppliers than the current 737, with major partners contributing their own investment to reduce Boeing's costs, according to the Times.

If the past is an indicator, in order to meet a 2012 delivery date for its first orders Boeing would need to launch the project in the next two years -- soon after airlines begin taking their first Dreamliners.

FMI: www.boeing.com