AF could lose tanker oversight

Pentagon officials have not decided whether an upcoming tanker competition between Boeing and a Northrop Grumman/EADS North America will be managed by the Air Force or the Defense Department’s acquisition chief, according to David Van Buren, acting assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition. (Source: Aviation Week, 05/18/09) Gulf Coast note: If Boeing wins the planes would be built in Washington State; if Northrop/EADS wins planes would be assembled in Mobile, Ala.