» The Necessity of Private Planes

The Necessity of Private Planes

By Christina Bohnstengel

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It’s not just the tough economy that is causing turbulence for private plane companies. According to the chairman of Hawker Beechcraft Corp., the government and the press aren’t helping either.

“The media and some politicians have cast general aviation as a wasteful extravagance instead of a critical business tool and the source of millions of American jobs,” said Jim Schuster, Hawker Beechcraft Chairman.

Whatever the cause may be, the facts are that orders are down so layoffs are on the rise. Employees at Hawker Beechcraft received letters from Schuster explaining that another round of layoffs is on the way that will result in 2,300 workers losing their jobs in 2009. This is in addition to the 500 employees who were already laid off at the end of 2008.

The Wichita-based company has built 54,000 aircraft since 1932 and is one of America’s leading producers of business jets. With other plants located in Salina, Kansas, Arkansas, Mexico and the U.K., Hawker Beechcraft also has military ties, manufacturing special mission planes designed for surveillance radar.

Via Forbes

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