Spirit Aerosystems

[MichaelC]

http://www.kotv.com/main/home/stories.asp?whichpage=1&id=100190

Spirit Aerosystems to add 200 to 300 jobs at it's plants to handle Boeing business.  Plants are in Tulsa and McAlester.

[Townsend]

Spirit's Oklahoma Operations For Sale

http://kwgs.com/post/spirits-oklahoma-operations-sale

Spirit Aerosystems says it will sell its Tulsa and McAlester operations. The Wichita-based company made the announcement in news release this morning.

"Also today, Spirit announced the initiation of a process to divest its Oklahoma operations which includes sites in Tulsa, OK and McAlester, OK as part of the broader strategic and financial review announced by the company in May of 2013. "

The divestiture has been rumored for weeks. Reuters reportedlast month that a British based company, GKN, was interested in the operation. GKN makes auto and aerospace products.

That's part of a broader strategic and financial review it announced in May. The company has hired a financial adviser to help with the process.

Spirit said last month it would lay off about 360 salaried support and management employees at its Oklahoma and Kansas facilities.

It has about 2,700 Oklahoma workers.

The manufacturing facility in Tulsa, Okla., fabricates Boeing 737NG, 747-8, 777 and 787 composite and metallic wing components as well as metallic and composite floor beams for the 777 and 787 programs. Military program involvement includes the E3 AWACS radomes, engine cowls and rudders.

Current programs at the Tulsa site include development and production of composite and metallic wing components for the Boeing 737NG, 747-8, 777 and 787 product lines. The site is responsible for the design and delivery of a fully integrated wing for the G280 and the G650 aircraft. Spirit's expertise on military programs is being used to produce the E-3 AWACS IFF and radar radomes, engine cowls and rudders.

[Townsend]

Chamber Chief Reacts to Spirit News

http://kwgs.com/post/chamber-chief-reacts-spirit-news

The Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce reacts to the news that one of Tulsa's largest employers is for sale. The Chamber released the following statement from its president Mike Neal:

"Spirit AeroSystems has been a valued employer in the Tulsa region for more than 8 years. While the company has announced it will explore plans to sell its Oklahoma operations, there are many variables at play and it is too early to speculate what will be the final outcome.

In the event the company sells its Tulsa operations, the Chamber, City of Tulsa and other workforce and economic development partners across the region will remain engaged in encouraging buyers to continue investment in the Tulsa operations and our highly-skilled aerospace and manufacturing workforce currently working at the plant. Many of these same experienced workers have long been a part of our community, working at the plant years before Spirit's arrival under companies like Boeing and prior to that, Rockwell and McDonnell Douglas.

We are encouraged to hear Spirit's CEO Larry Lawson publicly acknowledge today the Tulsa plant is performing very well and improving. We realize companies across the world routinely explore possible divestitures for a multitude of reasons, and we will remain hopeful this process will result in a positive outcome for the Tulsa region.

[Conan71]

QUICK!!! We need a $150 million tax grab to keep Spirit Aero here! 

[TMS]

QUICK!!! We need a $150 million tax grab to keep Spirit Aero here! 

Better yet, we need a good ol', something-of-a-penny new sales tax to fund this tax grab, and new dams for the sake of the Margaritaville coming up the river... and a few other pet projects our leaders may want to try to foist upon us.

[Townsend]

Mayor Reacts to Spirit Announcement

http://kwgs.com/post/mayor-reacts-spirit-announcement

Mayor Bartlett and Tulsa business leaders try to put the best face on the announced intention of Spirit Aerosystems to sell the company's Oklahoma operations. The mayor says he's not all that concerned about the change because he believes much of the experienced workforce can continue to be employed in some aspect of Tulsa's aerospace industry. 

And the mayor says Spirit has long term contract commitments at the airport so he expects there won't be any immediate negative financial impact.

Tough to not editorialize this.

[Conan71]

Mayor Reacts to Spirit Announcement

"We want Spirit to keep their stuff here so their employees can keep their stuff here and spend money on stuff and things like that."