WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Bombardier Aerospace has issued layoff notices to about 85 workers in its engineering and flight-test center in Wichita.
Bombardier said it no longer needed the workers because it has moved closer to government certification of two new business jets, the Learjet 40 and Challenger 300. The 60-day layoff notices were issued Monday.
"Once the (certifications) are done, they don't require as many people," said Bombardier spokesman Dave Franson.
More than 650 people work in the engineering and flight-test center in Wichita.
More layoffs could be likely after the planes gain certification from U.S., European and Canadian regulatory agencies — a process that essentially allows the aircraft to be sold in those countries. Once the aircraft receives its governmental certificates, design changes are not needed — hence no need for more engineering or flight tests on those models.
Bombardier's top executive, Paul Tellier, has said the company's focus will be on cutting costs and increasing profits, rather than certifying new aircraft each year.
In the past two years, Montreal-based Bombardier has cut 44 percent of its work force in Wichita because of the downturn in the economy. At the end of April 2003, Bombardier's Wichita employment totaled 2,260, down from 4,002 a the same time two years ago.