Boeing asks S. Carolina for help on 787 factory permits

Boeing asked South Carolina's commerce secretary Wednesday for help in getting all the necessary permits for a 787 final-assembly plant in North Charleston, and declared itself "delighted" by the state's reaction so far.

The letter to Commerce Secretary Joe Taylor formally announced Boeing's interest in North Charleston "as a site for a potential facility for final assembly of our newest airplane, the 787 Dreamliner."

The company has not filed permit applications yet in South Carolina, said Boeing spokesman Russ Young, who called the move "procedural."

But the letter puts Boeing a step closer to setting up a commercial-aircraft assembly facility for the first time outside the Puget Sound region.

The letter said Boeing "has been delighted with the reception it has received from the state of South Carolina" since last month's purchase from Vought of the North Charleston plant that builds the 787's rear fuselage.

The letter said North Charleston "is only one of the candidate sites" and that the final decision has not yet been made.

Everett, where the first 787 production line is operating, also is vying for the second line. Boeing will not disclose what other sites are under consideration. A final choice will be made by the end of the year.

"Because of the substantial lead times necessary to obtain the necessary permits, we have chosen to begin the permitting process prior to selecting a site," its letter said.

The letter adds to pressure on the Machinists union to offer the company a "no-strike" agreement, which management has been pressing for most of this year.

Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson, reacting to the news of Boeing's letter, said, "You don't need to apply for permits in Everett."

He said the Everett plant has capacity for additional lines, a trained work force and the necessary infrastructure.