CH-47F Chinook modifications to be made by Boeing for U.S. Army

Posted by John McHale
MILLVILLE, N.J., 14 May 2011. U.S. Army officials tasked Boeing to perform Initial Production Fielding Support modifications including avionics systems on 49 CH-47F Chinook helicopters at the Boeing Millville Modification Center.
The $23.7 million contract period extends the current work of modifying Chinook aircraft at the Boeing Millville facility for another year, from May 2011 through April 2012.
After the Chinooks are delivered from the production line in Philadelphia to the Army, they are flown to Millville, where Boeing structural and electrical employees make specialized avionics and airframe modifications to support new Army requirements. In February 2010, Boeing opened the Millville facility at the local airport and was awarded the initial Army contract that included modifications for 35 aircraft. Those modifications were completed earlier this month.
"This important program for our U.S. Army customer is a result of the quality work our employees do every day," says Peri Widener, Boeing director of Rotorcraft Support. "Their responsiveness to schedule needs has helped Boeing to provide an affordable, service-focused offer for our customer."
"Our successful support to the warfighter is leading to follow-on work and maintaining our workforce in Millville," says Raymond Haddad, Boeing director of Chinook Rotorcraft Support. "We are using expertise from across the company to establish an innovative service that addresses customer requirements and affordability."
The follow-on contract also includes training support for Army Chinook units on the upgrades. Boeing is deploying two New Equipment Training teams that consist of CH-47F mechanics and technicians. Over the period of the contract, the teams will support Army units in the U.S. and overseas.