African airline orders 10 more Renton jets

Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines announced Friday an order for 10 next-generation 737-800s. At list prices, the order is worth more than $700 million. Ethiopian is one of Boeing’s better customers, having flown every modern Boeing jet except the 747. The 737 is assembled in Renton.

John Gillie, staff writer

Boe, Mello chosen for open Tacoma City Council seats

In an open session this morning, the Tacoma City Council chose Ryan Mello and David Boe to fill two council vacancies

Work on Boeing 787 Dreamliner engine start likely today

The startup the two Rolls Royce engines on the first test Boeing 787 Dreamliner is imminent in Everett, aviation sources said this morning.

BOEING: Union selfishness, Democrats to blame

Re: “It’s the end game for Machinists and Boeing (editorial, 10-28).

The gist of the editorial is that Machinist union demands are driving Boeing to South Carolina. If the state really wanted to keep Boeing here, a right-to-work law would do it.

But the union and Democrats’ selfish principles will force Boeing elsewhere so as to remain a competitive business in the world.

Ex-Dreamliner exec now in charge of 737

Mike Bair, the executive who first headed up Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner program, has been put in charge of a team designing a new version of Boeing’s most popular plane, the 737.

Bair and his team helped conceive the 787 with its composite fuselage, fuel-sipping engines, electrically powered control surfaces, and light and spacious interior, but was replaced when the plane bogged down with production problems.

Former Boeing executive Lars Andersen has been named to a similar position for an updated 777, Boeing’s twin-engine jumbo jet.