Terry Beezhold Moved To The Project, According To The Company
A top Boeing engineer has been tapped for a leadership role in the design of what is expected to be the 797 airliner, according to the company.
CNN Money reports that Terry Beezhold, who was chief project engineer for the 777X program, has been moved to the new 797 team. But the planemaker has not yet assigned roles for the program.
The plane has not yet been approved by the Boeing board, but the program was formally created in September for the possible development of a new clean-sheet twin-aisle airliner that would seat between 225 and 270 passengers. Beezhold is the second executive to be publicly named to the team. While the official designation of the new aircraft is the "New Mid-Market Airplane," it is being called the "797" by the marketing team.
The plane would fill a niche between the 737 MAX 10 and the Dreamliner. The larger goal is to relieve congestion on busy routes by offering aircraft that can carry more passengers.
Development of the 797 would cost between $10 and $15 billion, according to industry analysts, and if it is greenlighted, it would not be ready for revenue service until at least 2024, according to the report.
(Image from file)