Study: Boeing giving away U.S. expertise

Washington Times 09/08/04
author: UPI
(Copyright 2004)

Buffalo, NY, Sep. 8 (UPI) -- Two New York state industrial geographers are accusing the Boeing Corp. of giving away the nation's aerospace expertise.

Alan MacPherson, head of geography at the University of Buffalo, and a colleague, blame the company's growing reliance on a systems integration production mode for the outsourcing.

"America's global leadership in aerospace isn't being attacked, it's being given away," David Pritchard wrote in a paper being reviewed this week by the journal R&D Management.

He said Boeing often enters into agreements with foreign manufacturers to obtain orders from foreign governments. One result is an outsourcing of technology; another is that foreign content in Boeing aircraft is expected to reach 70 percent in its new 7E7 "Dreamliner."

"There will probably be more Japanese working on the 7E7 than Americans," Pritchard wrote.

I actually have a hard time with this particular topic. What I mean is I'm not sure how Boeing gets away with this. I assume export control laws are being followed, but I'm not sure why our government allows this technology transfer. Japan could literally build their own aircraft now. We've taught them everything they need to know, even how to build the wing, our prized technology distinction from Airbus. The scary part is I'm sure the government really doesn't understand the short and long term effects of its own policies. Is it really anything to sell an aircraft?

"Give a man a fish, and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he eats for the rest of his life." -- without our help!! Since we make money off of selling fish, this isn't good from my perspective. I'm not sure what Boeing is thinking yet.