Staff Report

Dubai: Boom Supersonic announced today at the occasion of a press conference at the Dubai Airshow 2017 that it is preparing a competitive site selection process for the production of its 55-passenger, Mach-2.2 airliner.

Boom has identified a number of criteria that it will look for in a production site: the company requires a manufacturing footprint capable of supporting airliner rate production, a location that can attract a community of thousands of thinkers and builders, and easy access to existing shipping networks and supply. Boom is looking for a site with previous aerospace influence and potential to develop further.

As Boom ramps into manufacturing of the XB-1 Supersonic Demonstrator, engineering resources are shifting to the company’s first commercial product—a revolutionary airliner 2.6 times faster than any other aircraft on the market. This shift in resources and focus on site selection marks a significant transition for the company as it takes another step toward making the planet more accessible.

To support this new phase in the company’s development, Boom has hired Bill James as vice president of production operations. Alongside overseeing production of Boom’s airliner, Bill will be responsible for supply chain and site-selection efforts, drawing on decades of leadership experience in the aerospace industry. Prior to joining Boom, Bill led wing design on the Airbus A380 and was vice president of advanced systems for Sierra Nevada Corporation, where he led the development of a clean sheet aircraft to compete for the USAF T-X trainer program.

“It’s an honor to join the Boom team,” said Bill James. “The team has already accomplished a great deal of work preparing for production of the airliner. I’m looking forward to further advancing our operations so that one day soon, supersonic passenger flight will be a reality again.”