The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A local firm touted its role in a new hangar for the future Air Force One, the same day Donald Trump said he wanted to cancel the plane,
President-elect Trump says Boeing costs ‘out of control.’
Talk about awkward timing.
On Tuesday, Peachtree Corners-based architecture and engineering firm Pond & Co. trumpeted a new contract with a joint venture partner to design a new $250 million hangar complex for the future Air Force One outside Washington, D.C. On any normal day, the new contract, a point of pride for Pond and partner Frankfurt Short Bruza, would generate good buzz for a high-profile project.
But earlier in the day, President-elect Donald Trump also had something to say about the Boeing project to replace the Air Force’s aging pair of 747s that are known as Air Force One when the president is aboard.
“Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order!” Trump tweeted.
The Wall Street Journal reported the Air Force uses modified 747-200 jets that have been in service since the administration of President George H.W. Bush, and which reach the planned end of their 30-year service life next year. The Journal reported Boeing has a contract to begin development work to replace the planes with modified 747-800s.
Separately, the Air Force has about $1.65 billion — less than half the $4 billion figure Trump tweeted — earmarked across several budget years for the jets, which would be put into service in 2023 or 2024. But that might not be the full cost of the program, and NBC News reported Trump is likely correct about the overall price of the program including research, development and other costs.
The Journal also reported the Air Force was considering a third plane, which would bump up the price.
In its news release, Pond said the hangar would be based at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland and is part of the Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization Program, the name of the jet replacement project. Pond officials didn’t respond Tuesday to a request for comment. Pond is a noted planner for military and federal, state, and local government infrastructure projects. The firm has done extensive design work at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, and community planning efforts across metro Atlanta.