Slow Going At Boeing, But Airbus Bustles

Boeing Co. last week announced its third-quarter deliveries, and said it shipped 210 jets in the first nine months of this year. The projected total of 280 jets for 2003 represents an eight-year low for Boeing. Airbus says it expects to ship 300 jets this year, which would place the European consortium ahead of Boeing for the first time ever. Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported this week that three 777s have made emergency landings this year after their windshields cracked when wiring to their heaters shorted out. In at least one of the incidents, the wiring briefly caught on fire. Boeing has told airlines to tighten the wire connections, the AP said, and is developing circuit breakers that should prevent the problem from recurring.