Boeing’s Wichita Operations Cut Jobs: Boeing is restructuring its Wichita, Kan., operations, laying off approximately 900 because of defense budget cuts, program delays, and contract completions. According to Derek McLuckey, general manager of the site, the Wichita plant will continue to handle military modifications and upgrades for 747s and other aircraft and will focus on engineering work for the B-52 fleet and other aviation and defense projects. The company plans to move management of its KC-135 program and several engineering jobs to its Oklahoma City, Okla., site later this year “to better service the customer.”
Aircraft readiness will suffer if Congress does not approve some $1.5 billion worth of spare parts the Air Force requested in its annual Unfunded Priorities List, sent to Capitol Hill last week, Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said.