By Jay Marks
The Oklahoman
8/2/2010

Aircraft manufacturing giant Boeing today announced plans to move more than
500 jobs to Oklahoma City by the end of 2012.

Boeing will relocate its C-130 Avionics Modernization and B-1 programs from
Long Beach, Calif., beginning in early 2011.

The programs now employ about 800 people in southern California. About 550
positions will be relocated to Oklahoma City.

The remaining positions will be reduced from the programs over the next two
years as contracts are fulfilled.

Mark Bass, general manager of Boeing's Maintenance, Modifications and
Upgrades, said the move will help Boeing offer a more competitive cost
structure for customers.

"Making a decision like this is never easy, but as we reviewed our
anticipated operating costs for the next several years, it became clear
that Boeing needs to take major actions on these programs in order to
remain affordable for our customers," Bass said. "We remain committed to
maintaining the excellent record of performance that our employees deliver
for our U.S. Air Force B-1 and C-130 AMP customers during this transition."

Some Boeing employees will be relocated when the programs are moved, while
other positions will be posted and hired locally in Oklahoma City.

Company managers are determining which employees will be offered relocation
to Oklahoma City.

Boeing will provide assistance for workers who do not make the transition,
including help in searching for other potential positions within the
company.