Aviation

Boeing’s New Engineering Hub in Daytona Beach: 200 High-Paying Jobs on Offer

Boeing is set to establish a new engineering facility at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Cici & Hyatt Brown Center for Aerospace Technology in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Plans to hire 200 engineers initially

The facility will initially focus on engineering work for military aircraft programs and advanced technology capabilities. Boeing plans to hire approximately 200 high-paying engineering professionals this year, with expectations to nearly double that number in the coming years.

The work will span Boeing’s defense and government services portfolios, emphasizing engineering design, research, development, and prototyping.

Mori Hosseini, chairman of Embry-Riddle’s Board of Trustees, described the development as a significant milestone for Daytona Beach, Florida, and the broader aviation community. The facility’s construction, including a 65,000-square-foot space with a 40,000-square-foot hangar, commenced in 2022 and is on track for completion in fall.

Boeing anticipates operations to commence by late fall, contributing to the local economy and fostering collaboration with students in aerospace, cybersecurity, commercial space, and other STEM fields at Embry-Riddle’s Research Park.

Boeing investing $100,000 in Volusia County

Boeing is also demonstrating its commitment to the community with a $100,000 investment in Volusia County nonprofit organizations. This funding supports initiatives like the Second Harvest Food Bank of Volusia County Schools Partnership Program, aimed at ensuring students have access to nutritious food.

Additional support will benefit local veterans and environmental programs, underscoring Boeing’s broader impact beyond its operational footprint.

Aviation

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

After the success of China’s first C919 aircraft, the country is setting its sights on developing a larger plane. COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) has officially confirmed plans to build a widebody aircraft, marking a significant step in its aircraft lineup.

Traditionally, Airbus and Boeing dominate the widebody aircraft market, with decades of expertise in developing planes and engines capable of carrying heavy payloads. China, which currently relies on imported engines, is now aiming to challenge these giants with its own widebody jet, the C929, designed to compete with the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777.

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The C929 will be China’s first independently developed long-range widebody aircraft. It adheres to international airworthiness standards and boasts independent intellectual property rights. The baseline version is designed to seat 280 passengers and offers a range of 12,000 kilometers, catering to global demand for both regional and international air travel.

Russia, which also needs reliable narrowbody and widebody aircraft, could become a key customer for the C929. Additionally, China plans to target the broader Asian market as it continues to expand its aviation capabilities.

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China’s aviation progress includes the ARJ21 (now called C909), a regional jet with 100 seats for shorter routes, and the C919, a narrowbody jet with 180 seats designed to rival the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320. Both models have found increasing demand in the domestic market.

At China’s largest air show in Zhuhai, COMAC announced that Air China will be the launch customer for the C929 widebody jet, though details about order size and delivery timelines were not disclosed.

Other major deals announced by COMAC include:

Hainan Airlines: Firm orders for 60 C919 and 40 C909 regional jets.
Colorful Guizhou Airlines: 30 C909 jets, with 20 firm orders and 10 provisional agreements.

The C929, renamed from the CR929 after Russia withdrew from the joint development project in 2023, is expected to carry 280–400 passengers with a range of 12,000 kilometers, competing directly with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.

According to COMAC’s deputy general manager, Tong Yu, the first fuselage section of the C929 is expected by September 2027, with prototype test flights anticipated soon after.