But Questions Remain About Layoffs

Liberty Aerospace Inc. announced the launch of the advanced XL2 Vanguard Edition at Lakeland 2008.

The latest model of the FADEC-equipped two seat touring and training aircraft offers a Gross Weight increase to 1,750 pounds, and toe-brakes, WAAS enabled Garmin GPS avionics, Jeppesen Terrain Database, and entry steps, as standard equipment.  

New optional avionics include the all-digital Aspen Evolution Pro Primary Flight Display (PFD) system, Garmin GTX 330 Transponder with Traffic Avoidance, and GPS-coupled S-TEC 30 Dual Axis Autopilot. An Insight True Flow 500 Fuel Flow Computer, coupled directly to the GPS for live in-flight fuel management, is also available.

"After recently celebrating the delivery of Serial Number 100 of the Liberty XL2, we are excited to now launch this advanced model and reach another milestone in the continued development of the XL2," said Keith Markley, President and CEO of Liberty Aerospace. "The new gross weight allows a generous payload of 420 pounds with full fuel, and toe brakes will enable Flight Schools to offer more conformity in their training programs. Add WAAS-enabled GPS avionics with Traffic Avoidance for maximum utilization of our Certified IFR capability, and the FADEC equipped Vanguard XL2 pulls far away from what little competition we had in the certified two-place market."

The Vanguard model also sports a new blue-tone decal design, and the entry steps offer easier access to the cabin over the wing. Finger brakes -- often preferred by private owners for their simplicity and ease of maintenance, but increasingly rare on training aircraft -- will still be available as optional equipment.

Deliveries of the new model are expected to begin in early summer of this year.

Melbourne Layoffs

In related news, questions still remain regarding last week's announcement of layoffs at Liberty. After staying vague through the weekend on details of its plans to furlough some of its workers in Florida, the planemaker now tells Florida Today a total of 50 workers, of the 180 employed at the company's Melbourne facility, are out of work.

The company says no more cuts are expected, for now. Margaret Napolitan, general counsel for Liberty, said, "We don't foresee any changes in the business size for the upcoming year."

The company confirmed the manufacture of some parts used in building its XL-2 trainer will be shifted to its Romanian partner. Liberty already has 160 employees there.

After years of waiting, Liberty received an FAA type certificate for the XL-2 in 2006. Employees were optimistic, but some saw the writing on the wall.

Former Liberty production lead Michael Carpenter of Merritt Island told the paper, "All of us who worked there had enough common sense to know that this might be coming, because of the recent changes in the last few months.

"One employee was sent to Romania to teach the Romanians how to do build-up and wiring. I guess this is just another company that can get it done cheaper by moving overseas."

Earlier, Liberty CEO Keith Markley predicted to local economic development officials the company would actually add jobs this year, to handle increased work in connection with an agreement to partner with the Chinese government to produce 600 XL-2s.

More recently, Markley's outlook has changed. On Friday, a company statement explained, "As Liberty continues to expand production, the expense associated with this growth could be absorbed in the Romanian facility much better than in Florida."

Liberty officials may provide further details of the move during a Wednesday morning news conference scheduled at Lakeland. Stay tuned.

FMI: www.libertyaerospace.com