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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Hawker Beechcraft is laying off 170 employees at its Little Rock aircraft finishing plant.

The company on Thursday issued a letter giving the workers 60 days of notice, as required by federal law.

The Wichita, Kan.-based company says the layoff will affect both hourly and salaried workers.

In November, Hawker Beechcraft assured Little Rock employees that there was enough work at the plant so that layoffs would not be necessary, even though the company issued a layoff notice.

In May, Hawker Beechcraft filed for bankruptcy protection and in July agreed to sell the company to a Chinese firm for $1.8 billion.

Demand for business jets has declined since the 2008 economic downturn.



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