> Pope, who is an obvious contender, has a background in finance. Dave Gitlin, a Boeing director who is chief executive of Carrier, which manufactures heating and cooling systems, has a background in aerospace, previously holding roles at Collins Aerospace and United Technologies.<p>> A third possible contender is Patrick Shanahan, head of Boeing’s supplier Spirit AeroSystems, which supplied the door plug that blew out during the Alaska Airlines flight in January. He previously spent three decades at the plane maker. Greg Smith, American Airlines chair and a former Boeing finance director, is seen as another potential candidate.