Westland Aerospace to cut 91 more jobs

WESTLAND Aerospace, part of GKN, is shedding a further 91 jobs because the aircraft industry continues to delay orders for components, writes Russell Hotten.

The cuts at the Isle of Wight company bring total job losses to more than 500 in the past two years, including 254 announced last November.

Westland Aerospace, which builds engine parts and large structures for aircraft manufacturers, said the order book remained strong but companies continued to push back contracts.

The losses, which include 18 trainees, will be in the managerial, clerical and technical departments at the company's two divisions, aviation and structures. The company, with 1,200 remaining staff, is the largest employer on the Isle of Wight, where 10 per cent of the workforce are jobless.

Westland Aerospace has won orders over the past eight months including its largest yet - to build engine coverings for Lockheed's latest Hercules transport plane.