Boeing VP Talks About Tanker Deal

March 07, 2008

Boeing and Spirit employees in Wichita were expecting to be among the thousands of American workers who would build the new Air Force refueling jets. Instead, a week after the announcement Boeing was getting an explanation about why deal went to a group that includes Europe's Airbus.

"We were shocked last Friday," says Boeing Vice President Mark McGraw. "I think a lot of people across the country were shocked and frankly I think our competitor was shocked."

Just out of a day-long debriefing with the Air Force, McGraw spoke with Eyewitness News from Washington. "We are taking the feedback we got today. We still have serious concerns about the process."

McGraw says Boeing officials will reflect on what was discussed and announce early next week whether to file a formal protest. If they do, the General Accounting Office will determine whether mistakes were made to warrant rebidding the project.

Meanwhile, Kansas Congressman Todd Tiahrt says the project should be rebid. "American jobs are the victim, our national security is the victim and I'm outraged," says Tiahrt.

Tiahrt says the Air Force changed design specifications midstream to favor the Northrup-Airbus proposal. He says Boeing could have offerred a bigger plane if it knew that's what the military wanted. Now, Tiahrt is hoping to ignite a movement across the country. He says 40 states would have benefited from a Boeing tanker contract.

"It takes a national swell of outrage so that the anger is felt in Washington D.C. because they will see that an injustice has been done, that American jobs have been lost and we've outsourced our national security and they'll say let's do it over and do it right. "

|

|

|