12 January 2009
Florida-based Liberty Aerospace is the latest GA manufacturer to announce job cuts, shedding 30 of its 70 employees.
The company blames the job losses directly on the world economy: “It’s been lower aircraft deliveries,” Keith Markley, Liberty’s president and chief executive officer, told Florida Today. “We’re just lowering our costs.”
The Liberty is a descendent of the UK-produced Europa kitplane, which enjoyed great success in the 1990s.
A year ago, Liberty was employing 180 people in Florida. At the end of 2007 it <a href=’http://www.flyer.co.uk/news/newsfeed.php?artnum=668′ target=’_blank’>announced a 600-aircraft manufacturing agreement</a> with Chinese company Anyang Angel Aero Science and Technology Development Co.
The Liberty XL-2 received EASA certification towards the end of last year, and UK disributor John McMillan of Piper UK says that he is expecting to take delivery of a demonstrator in February. He is intending to take this model for a tour around the UK in the spring, visiting clubs and schools around the country.
