Boeing

The Boeing Company said today it is putting together a team to evaluate possible use of the Kelly Air Force Base facilities in San Antonio, Texas, for future modification and heavy maintenance work.

Many of the facilities at Kelly will become available as the result of the planned closure of the base in 2001 and the movement of maintenance work on the C-5 Galaxy airlifter from the facility next year.

Boeing was one of the unsuccessful bidders on the C-5 maintenance contract, which the U.S. Air Force announced last week was won by Warner Robins Air Logistics Center in Georgia. The Boeing team that will do the evaluation will be drawn primarily from those experts who examined the facilities in preparation for the C-5 contract.

"This evaluation team will look at the unique capabilities that exist at Kelly, along with the trained workforce that is in place in the San Antonio area," said David Spong, head of airlift and tanker programs at Boeing. "These capabilities will be evaluated and compared with other possible sites in making decisions on the best place for future work."

Boeing conducted a series of job fairs in the San Antonio area this year to identify potential employees for the C-5 contract, and is aware of the range of skills available there. In addition, a small-business conference was held this summer to identify potential suppliers and subcontractors in the San Antonio area.

Boeing will meet this week with representatives from Greater Kelly Development Corporation, set up to manage the base facilities as they are turned over by the Air Force. Kelly Air Force Base is being closed under the Base Realignment and Closure law (BRAC).

Spong emphasized that no specific maintenance and modification programs have been identified at this time that could or would be moved to Kelly.

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