Says Market Conditions Require That Additional Employees Be Let Go

Hawker Beechcraft sent out notices to an additional 350 Wichita employees Monday, saying that it was making changes to previously planned production schedules and "resizing our workforce."

The Wichita Eagle reports that the layoffs were announced at an early morning meeting on Monday, as well as in a letter signed by Chairman Bill Boisture (pictured) and CEO Steve Miller. The executives said in the letter that "this remains a difficult, unprecedented time for our company, our employees, and our industry."

HBC is not tying the layoffs to furloughs announced earlier this year, which the company said in an SEC filing April 13th were due to a shortage of composite materials for certain airplanes. There have been rumblings about the company preparing in advance for a bankruptcy filing, but so far that development has not materialized.

In the filing, HBC said “In the coming weeks, we expect to decide on a path forward for Hawker Beechcraft that will include a plan that will put the company on firm financial footing and better position Hawker Beechcraft for the future. As we move forward with this process, we remain steadfast in our commitment to building, selling and servicing the best airplanes for our civilian and military customers.”

FMI: www.hawkerbeechcraft.com