Boeing

The leader of Boeing Commercial Airplanes strongly endorsed the steps announced today by Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta to strengthen aviation security.

"There is no higher priority at the moment for Boeing than making commercial aviation as strong as it needs to be to protect passengers and crews against the threat of terrorism," said Alan Mulally, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and chief executive officer. "Moving people, goods and ideas freely around the world is essential to the world economy. We are committed to maintaining a safe and efficient global air transportation system."

Mulally said Boeing engineers and executives had been working around the clock since the tragic events of Sept. 11 to identify the best steps to take to ensure the near-term safety of flight crews and passengers. A team to support airline customers in the follow-on airplane security enhancements has been formed, he added. It is designing an improved door and bulkhead, and is developing avionics and video improvements responsive to the secretary's recommendations.

"We are 100 percent committed to this effort," Mulally said. "We will use all of the resources of The Boeing Company to help the airlines and the government make our aviation system safe and secure."