Leonardo will produce composite mid-body bodies for the Boeing 787 at its Grottaglie plant in southern Italy for four months to align production with weaker near-term demand.
However, it will also incorporate a new final assembly line at the plant for the AW609 civil tiltrotator developed through its helicopter division.
Grottaglie, originally created to build the carbon fiber structures of the 787, has been operating at full capacity for some time.
Initially affected by declining demand caused by Covid-19, the plant later had to deal with lower-than-expected production due to problems in Boeing’s production system, adding several disruptions in deliveries to deal with quality issues.
Leonardo had requested better contract terms with Boeing for the 787 paints and warned in May that he had no data on when production would resume from its then-low levels.
Leonardo therefore believes that it will be necessary to suspend painting work on the Dreamliner: “The reduced expansion of production and deliveries of the Boeing 787 requires a four-month shutdown to adapt production to the short-term reduction in demand. “
However, no timetable for the closure has been revealed and it will require the participation of unions.
Leonardo expects that production of the 787 can be higher from the beginning of 2025.
Meanwhile, the manufacturer will further diversify its operations in Grottaglie, adding a final assembly line for the AW609.
Speaking to union representatives on 24 June, the Italian carmaker said it had been selected “as the definitive meeting place for the company’s AW609 in Italy”.
The first visiting examples of the AW609 are being built at the aircraft manufacturer’s U. S. plant in Philadelphia; the tiltrotator has not yet received certification from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Leonardo says he sees enough demand for the AW609 to justify two assembly lines. The company’s order book for the model has six examples, according to data from Cirium’s fleets.
However, no date has been revealed for the start of production of the AW609 in Grottaglie.
Given the 787 volumes removed, Leonardo already has to diversify his paintings on site, building composite structures for several early-stage programs, adding the Eurodrone wing and the fuselage of the Vertical Aerospace VX4 electric air taxi.
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