"Bangor airport losing 35 federal positions"

Saturday, February 5, 2005

Bangor airport losing 35 federal positions 
The Associated Press 


BANGOR - The Federal Aviation Administration's decision to privatize its
Automated Flight Services Station network will eliminate the Bangor station
and 35 federal jobs at Bangor International Airport, officials confirmed
Thursday. The FAA has entered a five-year contract with Lockheed Martin,
which will install new technology and upgrade facilities to improve the
efficiency of the flight service stations, which provide support services
such as route planning and weather and air-space information.

The $1.9 billion contract is expected to save $2.2 billion over the next 10
years, according to the FAA. The new technology will enable Lockheed to
consolidate the number of stations from 58 to about 20, said Joe Wagovich, a
spokesman for Lockheed Martin Information Technology.

The station housed at BIA is among those due for closure, a process Wagovich
says will take about two years to complete.

The move will affect 35 workers at the Bangor station, said John Ford, a
spokesman for U.S. Sen. Susan Collins. Affected workers will be offered
similar positions with Lockheed Martin in other locations, or they can opt
for early retirement.

If they choose to relocate, they will be guaranteed jobs with equal or
better pay plus benefits, Ford said.


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