Boeing to buy half of fuselage supplier

CHICAGO, March 28 (UPI) -- Boeing Co. is in discussions to purchase 50 percent of Global Aeronautica LLC to help fix production problems with the 787 Dreamliner.

Alenia Aeronautica, a unit of Italian aeronautics giant Finmeccanica will purchase the other half of the company from its current owner Vought Aircraft Industries Inc., Crain's Chicago Business Journal reported Friday.

With the purchase, one-quarter of the Dreamliner 787's fuselage will be made in South Carolina, while Vought will continue to construct the aft sections of the plane at a neighboring facility, the report said.

Pat Shanahan, vice president and general manager of the 787 program said, "all three partners in this transaction -- Boeing, Vought and Alenia -- believe these changes will enable the 787 team to continue to overcome supply chain challenges to the program."

Financial details were not disclosed, the report said.