Helicopter - Yeovil is shutting down - Rotor&Wing

GKN Aerospace to Close Yeovil Factory

By S.L. Fuller | November 18, 2016

Leonardo’s AW159 is designed for maritime and utility missions. Photo courtesy of Leonardo

The U.K. supplier GKN Aerospace is set to close its GKN Yeovil helicopter factory in Somerset County, England, news outlets reported. This decision follows the October issuance of 221 redundancy notices at the Leonardo airframes production facility.
Unite, Britain and Ireland’s largest trade union, hoped to defend the more than 200 jobs the site employs after Leonardo pulled production of the Royal Navy’s Leonardo AW159 Wildcats from the Yeovil facility. However, GKN could not foresee sustainable work for the factory. Closure is reportedly set for the end of 2017.
GKN said it explored all options to keep GKN Yeovil running, but came up empty handed. The company plans to offer Yeovil employees alternative jobs and relocate staff, if possible.