Live from Dreamliner Drive

Published 1:38 am Friday, September 24, 2010

For nearly a year, I’ve been writing about the Boeing Co.’s decision to place a second 787 Dreamliner assembly line in South Carolina.

It’s different, though, seeing the real thing.

Herald photographer Michael O’Leary and I have been in North Charleston, South Carolina, for a few days checking out the Boeing Co.’s operation and visiting with local residents here.

When we spotted construction of the new factory, reality set in: Boeing really is building a huge final assembly facility here, not in Everett.

And the community couldn’t be happier.

So far, we’ve met only one person who was unaware of Boeing’s expansion at the airport. I know from reading local blogs and media coverage that there are people who oppose the incentives the state doled out to land Boeing, but I’ve yet to hear anyone say that he or she is against Boeing coming here.

Many people are excited about the possibilities that Boeing brings to the area. Overall, most talk about the need for jobs here. Just yesterday, the state reported an increase in unemployment, with an 11 percent jobless rate.

This afternoon, we’ll be looking at the facilities that Boeing bought from Vought and Global Aeronautica. Tomorrow, we’ll be near Dreamliner Drive, talking to local officials about Boeing’s expansion in North Charleston.