$1.1 Billion Air Force Maintenance Contract Goes to Boeing
Conducted every five years, scheduled PDM services include depot-level inspections, repairs, maintenance, modifications, repainting and supply chain services, the company said. Unscheduled maintenance comprises about half of the work performed on each aircraft.
Boeing will perform the work for more than 200 KC-135 aircraft at facilities in Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri.
According to the company, since the initial KC-135 PDM contract award in October 1998, Boeing has completed scheduled and unscheduled maintenance on more than 160 aircraft.
Boeing noted that KC-135 maintenance will continue to alternate between Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma and Boeing’s Support Systems site in San Antonio, a licensed Federal Aviation Administration repair station and the company’s largest maintenance and modification center.
According to Boeing, the San Antonio-based center can house 23 wide-body aircraft at a time in its 1.6 million-square-foot facility and is home to the world’s largest freestanding high-bay aircraft hangar. In addition, there are 3.5 million square feet of aircraft ramp space, run-up areas, parking pads and an 11,500-foot runway. Flight-control repairs will continue to be performed by Sabreliner in Missouri and completed by North American Aviation Services (NAAS) in San Antonio. Sabreliner and NAAS are prime subcontractors for the program.
Boeing Expects to Add 200 Employees in San Antonio
The Boeing KC-135 PDM program management office is based in Oklahoma City, near Tinker Air Force Base. Approximately 300 Boeing employees work on the KC-135 PDM program in San Antonio, while 80 Boeing employees in Oklahoma and 75 Boeing employees in Missouri support the program.
Boeing said that it expects to hire about 200 additional employees in San Antonio as more aircraft arrive for maintenance.
“I’m proud that the Air Force has continued to recognize Boeing’s efforts on this project by awarding such a great opportunity,” said U.S. Rep. Charles Gonzalez, D-Texas. “I commend Boeing on their hard work throughout this process, and I’m pleased that they’ll continue to have a strong presence in San Antonio. This investment in our city will be a great addition to our already robust local economy, and I’m grateful that both Boeing and the Air Force will continue to reap the benefits of the flourishing business environment and talented workforce that exists in San Antonio.”
