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Designing the Dreamliner

Jeffrey Scheerer ('06) is member of team that designed Boeing 787 Dreamliner

By Katie O'Dowd ('07)

Jeffrey Scheerer ('06), a manufacturing engineer for Global Aeronautica LLC, is part of the team that designed the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The Boeing Dreamlifter pictured here is a specially modifed 747-400, which delivered the first assemblies for the 787 Dreamliner.

Jeffrey Scheerer ('06), a manufacturing engineer for Global Aeronautica LLC, is part of the team that designed the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The Boeing Dreamlifter pictured here is a specially modifed 747-400, which delivered the first assemblies for the 787 Dreamliner. Photograph by I. Wilson Baker

Jeffrey Scheerer ('06) is flying high at his first job out of college. Scheerer works as a manufacturing engineer for Global Aeronautica LLC, a startup company developed for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner project.

Composite materials make for easier manufacturing, fuel efficiency

"The main difference between the Dreamliner and commercial airplanes of the past is that it is primarily constructed of composites instead of aluminum and sheet metal," Scheerer says.

Older commercial airplanes have metal frames wrapped in sheet metal. But the Dreamliner, Scheerer says, is made in sections out of composite materials such as carbon fiber. "This makes for much easier and faster manufacturing and assembly," he explains. "It also makes it much lighter ..., which makes it faster and more fuel efficient."

Passengers will have more room, great views

Scheerer says the Dreamliner is also designed for better passenger comfort. "In general, passengers will have more room, exposure to better air quality and access to all sorts of technology."

But one feature that stands out, Scheerer says, is the Dreamliner's windows. "They will be much larger than those on traditional airplanes, giving passengers great views of their surroundings." Scheerer helped manufacture and install all systems in the fuselage for the Dreamliner. After completion, the 787 was returned to Boeing for final assembly.

ISAT major prepared Scheerer for job industry

An ISAT major with dual concentrations in engineering/manufacturing and energy, Scheerer says JMU helped prepare him for the job industry. "ISAT doesn't just teach students a regime of material; it also teaches students how to learn new material and adapt to new situations in a variety of technical fields," he adds.

ISAT professor Jonathan Miles says Scheerer was an excellent student in the program. "He was determined to excel," he says.

"I have always been very interested in airplanes and manufacturing, so I knew I wanted a job in the aerospace field."

Summer internship led to job

The summer after his junior year, Scheerer interned in the Baltimore area with Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, which he says taught him a lot about the aerospace field.

His internship also helped him land his first job with Global Aeronautica. When Scheerer first heard about the Boeing project, he knew it was something he wanted to be a part of. "I have always been very interested in airplanes and manufacturing, so I knew I wanted a job in the aerospace field," he says.

Scheerer began researching the company and networking through contacts at Northrop Grumman. He eventually got in touch with the operations manager, which led to interviews and a job offer.

Miles says the job is entry level, yet "unusually visible" given the national importance of Boeing and the new Dreamliner.