Hawker Beechcraft handing out layoff notices

[November 12, 2011]  WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -- Wichita-based aircraft maker Hawker Beechcraft Corp. has begun issuing layoff notices, but is not disclosing any numbers.

CEO Bill Boisture had warned employees in a letter last week of impending layoffs amid troubled world economies.

The company says most of those being laid off were notified Friday. Hawker Beechcraft has more than 6,000 workers worldwide, including 4,700 in Wichita.

Last December, Hawker Beechcraft committed to keeping its aircraft operations in Kansas for 10 years as part of a $45 million deal with state and local officials.

The company agreed in exchange to maintain current aircraft lines and keep at least 4,000 jobs in Kansas until 2020. The company said in its brief statement Friday that its Kansas job count will stay "well above" that number following the layoffs.

[Associated Press]

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