COO Says Management Reorganization 'Not A Sign Of Trouble'

Aero-News received a News-Spy tip early Friday regarding layoffs at Liberty Aerospace. Subsequently, ANN has confirmed that approximately 20 people lost their jobs Friday morning, as part of what the company is calling a "management reorganization."

Company Chief Operating Officer Keith Markley tells ANN the layoffs aren't a sign of problems at the Melbourne, FL planemaker. Markley previously reported to local media the company employed some 200 people.

Despite the specter created by the lost jobs, Markley put a decidedly positive spin on the situation, "Basically, Liberty continues to grow at a rapid pace... in fact, we're on track to do four times the number of deliveries over last year's pace. We're growing, and reshuffling our organization to build a higher level of efficiency."

Markley added over the next several weeks, Liberty would announce further details on its growth and expansion plans.

Liberty manufactures the two-seat, composite-bodied XL2 trainer. Derived from the Europa motorglider, and noteworthy for its FADEC-controlled, 125-horsepower Continental IOF-240 powerplant, the XL2 has taken a slow and troubled path to the marketplace. The promising aircraft has also been involved in some minor accidents, allegedly due to its unconventional landing and braking system.

Initially handicapped by difficulties with FAA certification and a life-limit of 225 hours on its carbon-fiber fuselage shell, Liberty Aerospace states the XL2 is now fully VFR and IFR certified. The company claims testing is underway at National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) in Wichita, KS to raise the fuselage life-limit to as high as 25,000 flight hours; currently, the plane is certified to 5,000 hours.

The XL2 is priced at $160,000 to $185,000, nearly twice original estimates at its introduction.

FMI: www.libertyaerospace.com