Boeing
The schedule for delivering the upcoming model of Air Force One continues to face obstacles, causing the completion date to recede even further into the distance.
report
The report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) indicates that the project, which has been delayed for several years and exceeded its budget by billions of dollars, continues to face familiar issues.
Back in 2018, during
President Donald Trump
During his initial term, Boeing secured a $3.9 billion contract to develop and tailor two Boeing 747-8 aircraft for the next generation of Air Force Ones, with an expected completion by 2024. However, the rollout has since been delayed until at least late 2029, and this timeline appears increasingly unreliable.
According to
Fortune
The Pentagon stated that “continuous design problems, required modifications, and staffing difficulties hindered the progression of converting two Boeing 747-8 planes into presidential aircraft.”
In order to comply with the stringent requirements set for Air Force One, Boeing must implement substantial modifications to the airplanes, particularly concerning their security measures and capabilities for extended-range flights, leading to considerable delays in the manufacturing process. A notable omission from these specifications is the capability of the VC-25B model to receive aerial refueling, a provision that former President Donald Trump opted not to include.
The Government Accountability Office reports that progress on the aircraft has stalled because of issues with the decompression systems and the design of its environmental control features. Additionally, Boeing’s certification strategies along with the overall plane design remain unfinished, causing further delays in testing. Furthermore, maintaining a stable workforce for this project has been an ongoing challenge for the company.
According to the report, “VC-25B officials indicate that Boeing continues to encounter difficulties in recruiting and keeping skilled mechanics because of current market circumstances.” The document further notes, “Representatives from the program mentioned that the approval process for mechanics to obtain essential clearances remains a constraint on building up the workforce.”
Even so, Boeing reduced approximately 10 percent of its employees last year, even though the job market was robust throughout the sector.
Even though Trump approved the new Air Force One planes during his initial term, it’s highly unlikely he will have the opportunity to use them before leaving office. The expected delivery was moved back from May 2027 to December 2029; however, this date remains questionable. According to a high-ranking Boeing representative speaking with Reuters, the program might extend “several years past” the updated schedule.
The problems slowing Boeing’s progress today aren’t all that different from those that have held things up in the past. A June 2022 GAO report pointed out that Boeing was already struggling to find enough qualified mechanics, partly due to a tough job market and because many of the skilled workers couldn’t get the necessary security clearances.
“Employees must meet stringent security requirements to work on the VC-25B program because of its presidential mission,” the report articulated. “VC-25B officials said that Boeing continues to work with the program office to improve the prescreening process for applicants to ensure timely processing of security clearances.”
At the beginning of Trump’s second term, Boeing sought assistance from Elon Musk, who was heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) at that time. At a Barclays conference held in February, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg mentioned that Musk’s counsel had been instrumental in resolving certain manufacturing bottlenecks.
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