Boeing closing Wichita defense plant; moving work to Washington state

[The Straight Story]

Boeing closing Wichita defense plant; moving work to Washington state


WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -- Faced with defense budget reductions, the Boeing Co. announced Wednesday it will close its defense plant in Wichita by the end of 2013.

The closure will cost more than 2,160 workers their jobs and end the firm's presence in a city where it has been a major employer for generations.

The decision was not entirely unexpected. The company said in November it was studying whether to close the Wichita facility, which specializes in modifying commercial aircraft for military or government operations, to address Defense Department budget cuts. The first layoffs are expected to begin in the third quarter of 2012.

The company said it was moving future aircraft maintenance, modification and support to its plant in San Antonio, Texas, and engineering work to Oklahoma City. Work on the Air Force refueling tanker will be performed in Puget Sound, Wash. The company said the 24 Kansas suppliers on that program will continue to provide parts as originally planned.

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/boeing-plans-wichita-employee-meeting-amid-closure/nGFbX/

[Ikonoklast]

1. Big hit to Wichita.

We need to transition those highly-skilled defense workers to designing and building alternative renewable energy systems.

I would gladly pay taxes for that instead of building more toys for the military.

[Kolesar]

3. With ya' ... eom

[Kolesar]

2. "Boeing has had a facility in Wichita since it bought the Stearman Aircraft Co. in 1929."

Imagine that. Only 26 years after the first flight.
...
At least it's not a total loss:
"Spirit AeroSystems, which took over Boeing's commercial operations, continues to build parts here for Boeing's commercial airplanes."

good luck, Wichita.

[rsmith6621]

4. Good News For Seattle/Everett

.... Washington state needs JOBS also.

[Cheap_Trick]

5. I guess Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback

didn't kiss Boeing's ass enough.