Italy’s Alenia Aeronautica will now serve as a “second source” of the composite horizontal stabilizer for the Boeing 787-9 under a plan to move primary responsibility for the component to Boeing’s Advanced Development Center in Seattle. Under a new contract Boeing recently signed with Alenia, the Italian manufacturer will lose its position as prime contractor for the component starting in 2013, according to a Boeing statement.
Alenia had struggled with quality “issues” associated with the production of the horizontal stabilizer for the 787-8, forcing Boeing early last summer to inspect 23 of the airplanes for workmanship deficiencies and institute a so-called rework once found. The problem centered on the brackets that attach the stabilizer to the fuselage. Specifically, Boeing found improperly installed shims used to close the gap between the structures and excessive torque of associated fasteners. Although Boeing said inspections would take only two days and, if needed, repairs would take roughly eight, by August the company continued to struggle with so-called workmanship issues originating at Alenia’s Foggia, Italy plant.
