Air Transport

Boeing has restructured its Boeing Integrated Defense Systems business in Australia in a move that sees the departure of David Withers, who has headed Boeing Australia as managing director for the past two years.

The reorganisation comes as Boeing Australia, the aerospace giant's largest business outside the USA, struggles with a number of defence programmes in Australia. The Boeing 737 airborne early warning and control Wedgetail programme, which is over three years late, and the Boeing Australia-led Israel Aerospace Industries I-View 250 tactical unmanned air vehicle for the Australian Army, which is two years late, are both on the Australian government's "projects of concern" list.

Defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon said recently that the Wedgetail programme in particular "continues to cause a high degree of concern".

All IDS programmes in Australia now report to the three IDS profit and loss centres - Boeing Military Aircraft, Support Systems and Network and Space Systems.

In the restructuring, Jeff Worley becomes vice-president and acting managing director Boeing IDS Scott March has been appointed head of Boeing Military Aircraft and will retain his position as Wedgetail programme manager Wayne Needs becomes vice-president and general manager Support Systems and Steve Parker is vice-president and general manager Network and Space Systems.