Some blame Washington for Gulfstream layoffs

WTOC - SAVANNAH GA ^ | 06 MARCH 2009 | MICHELLE PAYNTER

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - The layoffs and furloughs at Gulfstream have some people blaming those in Washington DC for what's happening.

Thursday Gulfstream Aerospace announced they are going to lay off 1,200 workers and temporarily lay off another 1,500 this summer. A large number of those workers will be from Savannah. See Gulfstream cuts plane production, announces layoffs.

Gulfstream plans to release more information on exact numbers and what types jobs will be eliminated on Monday. Those layoffs and the company's planned furlough this summer are a direct result of our slumping economy.

But there are some who said Gulfstream's sales issue may be loosely linked to troubles between politicians in Washington and the big three automakers. And many believe that has led to negative connotation with owning what many consider a high class luxury item.

Last fall during bailout hearings for the auto industry, both republican and democratic members of Congress chastised CEOs for using corporate jets.

"It's almost like seeing a guy show up at the soup kitchen in high hat and tuxedo," said representative Gary Ackerman, a democrat from New York.

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, a republican told the automaker executives, "Look you gotta get rid of the corporate jets you got to get rid of the executive dining room."

Getting rid of private jets is a scary prospect for those whose jobs depend on them. A couple hundred private planes and corporate jets fly in and out of Savannah on any given week.

Jason Davis flew into Savannah today on a King Air aircraft. "It's truly heartbreaking to see such a valuable asset to many companies has now become this dark horse that is almost a tabu, it's a little frustrating," Davis said.

Davis said his King Air allows him to do more business, in more cities, in a shorter amount of time. "It's something aggressive businesses cannot do on the airlines and they can't do with driving."

"I think it's an essential tool because time is money," said Billy Hair, president of Productivity Air in Savannah.

"If it's such a luxury why are our government officials flying all over the country in government aircraft," Hair said. "I think the government is being very hypocritical here."

He said their attitude toward private planes is hurting more than just manufacturing companies like Gulfstream.

"This is going to have a trickle down effect of tens of thousand of jobs and I think the government needs to understand that," said Hair.

He worries if this negative attitude toward private planes continue it will only drive the economy down farther.

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[Mikey_1962]

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