Macon, Ga., to lose Chinook helicopter production

The Boeing Co. is phasing out its work on the CH-47 Chinook helicopters at its manufacturing plant in Macon, Ga. The Macon Telegraph reports that the news was given to workers at a meeting Feb. 6. Approximately 100 positions could be lost. The Chinook work will be phased out by early 2016 in Macon, according to Boeing spokesman Ken Smith.

 

In September 2013, Boeing officials announced the company would shut down its Macon C-17 Globemaster production line by the end of 2015 with a loss of 300 jobs. Only about 100 positions would remain in Macon for building replacement wings for the A-10 Thunderbolt attack plane, which the U.S. Air Force may seek to abandon due to budget cuts.

 

Meanwhile, the A-10 wing replacement program remains funded by the U.S. Air Force, and Boeing is pursuing additional contracts for that aircraft.