RENTON, Wash. -- Governor Gregoire makes it clear the state intends to compete hard for the new Boeing jet that will replace the 737.
Boeing's Renton plant is home to the world's most popular airliner, the 737. The plane is so popular, Boeing has three assembly lines building them at the rate of over one new jet a day. And soon they'll make them even faster.
To stay ahead of Airbus, Boeing is seriously looking at replacing the 737 with an all new, plastic composite jet built on a new type of production system.
But, the big question is whether the new jet will be built in Renton or even within Washington state.
"We're going to hit the ground running, no matter what the competition is," Governor Christine Gregoire said.
Washington has been down this road before. Back in 2003, then Governor Gary Locke, launched Operation Olympus to get Boeing to put the 787 Dreamliner here.
The Dreamliner stayed in Washington, but could've gone to Kingston, North Carolina.
And as it turns out a second 787 Assembly line will open this Friday near Charleston, S.C.
The man just appointed to keep the 737 at home is Attorney Tayloe Washburn. Washburn played a major role in helping the state win the $35 billion dollar Air Force tanker deal over Alabama.
"Everyone recognizes that for the next 9 months this is a one state effort. And we're all going to pull our resources to get it done," said Washburn.
In what's now named Operation Pegasus, Washburn and a team that will soon be assembled will fill a book with data on other states that are sure to jump into any race.
It's a little early to know which is going to rise to the top if there's a national competition.
Boeing hasn't even decided yet, whether it's even going to go ahead and build a full on replacement for the 737. It could choose just to put higher efficiency engines onto the existing model. But we should have more clarity on what it's going to do by the end of this year.
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