Not a good week for Boeing

It has not been a good week for Boeing.

Nationally, the aerospace giant is facing a probe after a second deadly crash of its new 737 Max airline.

Now, much closer to home, there is more turbulence for Boeing.

In Delaware County, Boeing means helicopters.

The Boeing plant in Ridley remains the county's biggest single employer. The plant does crucial work on the Chinook as well as the V-22 Osprey helicopters.

Just two years ago, there was joy at the facility when the Army announced a huge program to upgrade the Chinook fleet. It meant steady work for decades at the Ridley plant.

But now all that work - and lots of jobs - is in jeopardy. The Army's latest budget request scraps the Chinook upgrade.

It has always been one of the hallmarks of what used to be the 7th Congressional District that those Boeing jobs - and its helicopter business - were sacred.

It was always Job 1 for Curt Weldon, who held the seat for two decades and often did battle with Republican administrations - including President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney - who often had Boeing in their crosshairs.

It was a tradition upheld by Democrat Joe Sestak and then Republican Pat Meehan.

The 7th District is no more.

Now it will be the job of Democrat Mary Gay Scanlon, in the newly minted 5th Congressional District, to make sure all those jobs do not disappear as well.

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