Boeing Protests Air Force Contract on Tankers (2/2)

Boeing offered a version of its Seven Sixty-seven airplane for the new tankers. Northrop Grumman and EADS based their tanker on the Airbus A-Three-Thirty. That plane is larger and would be able to carry more fuel.

There is debate about the possible effect on American jobs because production would be split between Europe and the United States. There is also dispute about what the deal could mean for national security. In any case, Boeing says the Air Force changed requirements in the middle of the competition.

Boeing and Airbus each had record numbers of orders last year for commercial airplanes. Demand is strong in Europe and Asia. But this week, EADS reported a loss of six hundred eighty-five million dollars last year, after a profit in two thousand six. Airbus has had delays with its huge, new A-Three-Eighty passenger plane. A weak dollar also played a part in the loss.

Boeing has had its own problems with its new Seven Eighty-seven Dreamliner. To build it, the company is using a new system of suppliers around the world. Boeing says the Dreamliner could enter service early next year. Many buyers are waiting, but the new plane has not even had its first flight. The latest progress report is expected by the end of the month.

参考译文：

波音公司为新的加油机提供了自己的波音767的一个版本。诺斯罗普·格鲁门公司和欧洲宇航防务集团在空中客车A330的基础上制造了自己的加油机。这种飞机体积更大，能携带更多的机油。

关于美国就业可能因此受影响的问题存在争议，因为（加油机）的生产是在欧洲和美国两地分开进行的。对于这笔交易对国家安全意味着什么的问题也存在争议。无论如何，波音公司表示美国空军在竞争的过程中改变了需求。

波音公司和空中巴士公司都有去年商务客机订购数量的记录。在欧洲和亚洲，需求量是很大的。但这个星期，欧洲宇航防务集团报告说2006年赢利，但在2007年损失6.85亿美元。因此空中客车推迟了新款巨型A380客机的生产。美元疲软也导致了这笔损失。

波音自己的新型787梦想飞机也存在着问题。为了建造梦想飞机，波音公司在全世界使用了一种新的供应系统。波音表示这款梦想飞机将在明年初投入使用。许多购买者在等待，但这款新型飞机还未进行过第一次试飞。最新的进展报告预计在本月底出来。

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