Boeing to build new jet in U.S., lists demands SEATTLE (Reuters) =97 Boeing said on Friday that it would build its proposed= =20 super-efficient 7E7 jetliner in a U.S. location offering good weather,=20 ample facilities, skilled labor, low taxes, and relaxed business=20 restrictions. After briefing officials from Washington state who hope to=20 keep the world's biggest jet maker at home, Boeing laid out a laundry list= =20 for competing sites to mull over as it solicits bids for the 7E7 assembly=20 site, a mid-sized jet planned for delivery in 2008. "We will do everything= =20 in our power to win the Boeing 7E7 final assembly so we can keep and grow=20 Boeing jobs in our state," Washington Gov. Gary Locke said in a prepared=20 statement. "The criteria that Boeing released today include many of the=20 issues that Washington is already working on or has already completed." Gov. Locke Thursday signed a bill easing shoreline rules to help the city=20 of Everett build a rail-barge terminal to ship large airplane parts for=20 assembly at Boeing's wide-body jet plant =97 the likely home for a=20 Washington-based 7E7. Even if it completes every task on Boeing's wish=20 list, Washington still might not house the plant that builds the 7E7, a=20 mid-sized jet that would slash airline operating costs by up to 20 percent.= =20 The "E" is for "economy." And even if Boeing builds the 7E7 in Washington,= =20 it may not boost the company's local payroll of some 58,000 workers.=20 Streamlined production and increasing use of subcontractors will slash the= =20 in-house 7E7 labor force to perhaps hundreds, from the thousands working on= =20 current Boeing models. Boeing has cut some 35,000 commercial jet workers, including 22,000 in=20 Washington, as the Sept. 11 attacks and other events have crippled the=20 airline industry. Other key Boeing concerns included: Costs of land and=20 construction; proximity to runways and major seaports; road and rail=20 systems; quality of public schools; employee absenteeism rates; and natural= =20 disasters including earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes. Boeing has not=20 listed any other potential sites, but officials in Texas and Arizona have=20 publicly expressed interest and some observers have mentioned Alabama as a= =20 candidate. Company officials originally said they would even consider a non-U.S.=20 location for the 7E7. Seattle-area politicians, stung by Boeing's decision= =20 to move its headquarters to Chicago in 2001 and shift thousands of jobs to= =20 contractors elsewhere, have attempted to address many of the issues the=20 company has raised. Boeing officials and other big businesses have chafed=20 at the state's failure to ease unemployment and workers compensation=20 burdens or pass tax increases to fund roadway improvements. Washington=20 voters have rejected business-backed tax reforms. Boeing is battling=20 European rival Airbus SAS for dwindling aircraft orders and plans to=20 deliver 280 jetliners this year, which would be its lowest total since=20 1996. Airbus plans to build 300, which would push it past Boeing for the=20 first time ever. *************************************************** The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site/TnTisland.com Roj (Roger James) escape email mailto:ejames@xxxxxxxxx Trinbago site: www.tntisland.com Carib Brass Ctn site www.tntisland.com/caribbeanbrassconnection/ Steel Expressions www.mts.net/~ejames/se/ Mas Site: www.tntisland.com/tntrecords/mas2003/ Site of the Week: http://www.caribbeanfloral.com TnT Webdirectory: http://search.co.tt *********************************************************