Aviation industry suppliers struggling

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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -- Companies that supply aviation manufacturers have cut at least 1,000 jobs since October as companies cancel or defer orders for planes.

Wichita's three general aviation manufacturers -- Cessna Aircraft, Hawker Beechcraft and Bombardier Learjet -- have eliminated more than 12,000 jobs in Kansas in the past year. Their cutbacks have forced suppliers to reduce hours and furlough or lay off workers.

Companies with a large focus on business aviation have been hit the hardest. Those with commercial airline work from Spirit AeroSystems or Boeing are faring better.

About 150 suppliers and subcontractors turn out parts, subassemblies and other products for the planemakers in the Wichita area, where the unemployment rate rose to 9.9 percent in July. One out of every 10 people living in the city works in aviation manufacturing, the Wichita Eagle reported.

The Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas said it knew of about 1,000 job cuts at aviation-related companies since October but believes there are many others.

Precision Pattern, which makes aircraft furnishings, has cut 43 percent of its workforce since October and rows of stations sit empty. Only a year ago, business was booming.

"This place was busting at the seams," general manager Brian DeKamp said.

"It's really tragic what's happened in the industry," he said.

Employment at composite parts producer PCI is down nearly 60 percent.

"We were hiring people, training people; we were very busy," general manager Jeff Whitehead said. "Then, man, after the first of the year, it was really like falling off a cliff."

The company is now looking to add business outside of aircraft, he said.

Sinclair & Sons Custom Welding and Machine Services, was running three shifts in its machine shop last year and bought two other lots to expand. Now, the expansion is on hold and employment has fallen from 35 to 17 people, said Ron Sinclair, vice president and shop manager.

He expects to end the year with sales down 66 percent.

Suppliers also are worried about the longterm affect of the downturn. They need highly skilled and specialized workers. Many of those laid off could move out of the area to find jobs.

"There's nothing here for them," DeKamp said.

DeKamp said the first step to recovery is to improve the public's perception of how business jets are used.

"It's almost been demonized out there," he said.

DeKamp, Whitehead and others invited Congressman Todd Tiahrt to tour Precision Pattern recently. They asked for Tiahrt's advice on what to do to help carry the message of their struggles.

"The question is, how do we get aircraft back vibrant again," Tiahrt said at the end of the tour.

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Information from: The Wichita Eagle, http://www.kansas.com