The Obama administration is calling for a halt in production of the Boeing C-17. The Pentagon says it already has more of the Long Beach-built cargo planes than it knows what to do with.
But Congress will have the final say on this, and Congress seems inclined to keep it going. Last week, the House Appropriations Committee voted to spend $2.2 billion on eight new planes. However, Flight Global, a British-based trade publication, notes that this is a decline from previous orders:
The House panel included the C-17 funding in the supplemental funding resolution for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Senate Appropriations Committee has yet to approve its version of the bill, so the number of planes on order is subject to change.
But Congress will have the final say on this, and Congress seems inclined to keep it going. Last week, the House Appropriations Committee voted to spend $2.2 billion on eight new planes. However, Flight Global, a British-based trade publication, notes that this is a decline from previous orders:
But the add-on also showed that support for the programme continues to dwindle. In the FY07 budget, Congress added funds to purchase 15 C-17s beyond the US Air Force's programme of record for 180. A year later, Congress added funds for only 10. That number continued to decline by two more this year.Boeing hopes to make up the difference with international orders.
The House panel included the C-17 funding in the supplemental funding resolution for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Senate Appropriations Committee has yet to approve its version of the bill, so the number of planes on order is subject to change.
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