Evergreen Airlines to operate 787 cargo shuttle

Evergreen Airlines to operate 787 cargo shuttle    Evergreen International Aviation will operate and maintain the three super-sized 747 jumbo jets Boeing plans to use to ferry large sections for its new 787 long-range airliner from suppliers in Japan to its assembly plant in Everett, Wash., the two companies said.
   Boeing is outsourcing more production to focus on design and final assembly, and will rely on the 747 Large Cargo Freighter instead of slower vessels to ship wing and other major assemblies. The Large Cargo Freighter, which will have an enlarged upper fuselage and an aft fuselage that swings open for loading and unloading, is being modified in Taiwan.
   Evergreen International Airlines, McMinnville, Ore., specializes in handling outsize cargo and has experience operating 747s. Other Evergreen International Aviation subsidiaries will handle maintenance and ground handling.
   The all-cargo airline has subcontracted with Luxembourg-based Cargolux to transport parts from Europe to the United States. Cargolux operates a fleet of 14 747-400 freighters. Evergreen also selected the U.S. subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sojitz Corp. to coordinate logistics for Japanese supply lanes.
   The first two Large Cargo Freighters will enter service in early 2007, transporting 787 sections from Italy, South Carolina, Japan and Kansas to Everett.