Bombardier Idles About 200 Working On The Program In Kansas

Bombardier has laid off or reassigned workers in Wichita and Mexico as the Learjet 85 program continues to experience delays in its flight testing program.

Bombardier would not be specific about what was causing the setbacks, according to a report from Reuters, and would only say a "few things" had caused them to further delay flight testing.

The company did say through a spokesperson that part of the problem was that the company had started from scratch to design the airplane. Isabelle Gauthier said that the "clean sheet" airplane uses "innovative technologies" and "we've had a learning curve and we've had some challenges. We're not where we expected to be in the program."

While flight testing is continuing on the Learjet 85, Bombardier has been tight-lipped about the number of hours it has flown or when other flight test aircraft might begin flying. Also an open question is when the airplane might enter service.

The Wichita Eagle reports that about 200 hourly and salaried workers in Kansas will be affected by the move, which the company describes as "temporary." Local spokeswoman Molly Edwards said about 70 contract and temporary workers would be idled along with about 100 permanent employees. Some 40 others have been tapped for reassignment. In Mexico, about 50 contractors and temporary employees will be let go, Edwards said.

Edwards added that, of those 100 Wichita employees who might be let go, the company is looking for opportunities to place them on other jobs until the Learjet 85 program gets going again.

Those who will be laid off should know by the end of June, Edwards said.

(Image from file. Learjet 85 first flight)

FMI: www.bombardier.com