Boeing pauses CH-47F production just as deliveries to Netherlands begin
Boeing has suspended production work at its production facility outside of Philadelphia, where it manufactures aircraft such as the CH-47 Chinook heavylift helicopter and upgrades to V-22 Osprey tiltrotors due to the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic in the area.
The plant in Ridley Township, Pennsylvania is closed through April 20 while the company conducts a deep cleaning of the site and establishes criteria to allow employees to safely return to work.
“Suspending operations at our vital military rotorcraft facilities is a serious step, but a necessary one for the health and safety of our employees and their communities,” Steve Parker, Boeing’s vice president for vertical lift, said in a statement. “We’re working closely with government and public health officials in the tri-state region. We’re also in contact with our customers, suppliers and other stakeholders affected by this temporary suspension as we assist in the national effort to combat the spread of COVID-19.”
The suspension comes the day before it announced the delivery of the first CH-47F to the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) on the 3rd of April. The Dutch aircraft is the first of 20 ordered by the NATO member, with deliveries to RNLAF expected to be complete by 2021.
The Dutch aircraft will be in a common configuration as those used by the U.S. Army, which have digital automatic flight controls, a fully-integrated Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) glass cockpit, and advanced cargo handling capabilities. The common configuration leads to lower overall life cycle costs.
