Bell Helicopter lays off 290 employees plus about 85 contractors

[TexasTowelie]

An MV-22 Osprey aircraft last month took from the Cape Cod Coast Guard Station in Bourne, Mass., while flying in support of the Marine One helicopter carrying Pres. Barack Obama to Martha's Vineyard. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)

Fort Worth-based Bell Helicopter said today that it’s laying off 290 hourly and salaried people and about 85 contractors companywide due to federal spending cuts called the sequester.

Most of the layoffs will take place in the Fort Worth area, said spokesman William Schroeder. The job cuts are effective immediately.

“Staffing decisions like this are always difficult,” Bell chief executive John L. Garrison said today in an email to employees. “Good people who have performed well will be asked to leave the company, but it is necessary to ensure that we are successful in the future.”

Bell secured a new multi-year contract for the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, but “it reduces the build rate on our biggest program by nearly half,” affecting staffing levels, Garrison said.

More at http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com/2013/09/bell-helicopter-lays-off-290-employees-plus-about-85-contractors.html/ .

[catnhatnh]

1. If those 290 reduce the build rate by 1/2...

...then lets HIRE them and 290 more just like them and fire Bell entirely from the program.