When reports began circulating last month that Leesburg, Va.-based AvCraft Aviation had reached an agreement to buy Fairchild Dornier’s 328 production and associated support businesses in Germany, signs of a less-than-healthy state of affairs within AvCraft, particularly at its Tyler, Texas-based repair station, emerged as fast as disgruntled ex-employees could log onto their e-mail servers. At its peak employing more than 100 managers, mechanics and associated support personnel, AvCraft’s Tyler facility has seen its total roster shrink to 22, only one of whom at press time was an A&P certified mechanic. At least two former employees have filed wage claims with the Texas Workforce Commission in an effort to recover back pay, medical premium reimbursements, 401(k) contributions and vacation compensation, while those that remained awaited word on the company’s plans for the future of the Tyler location.
By the third week of March contract negotiations between AvCraft and Fairchild Dornier’s bankruptcy administrators remained in the “final stages,” according to one of the principles of the public-relations firm retained by AvCraft last month. In early January AvCraft CEO Ben Bartel told AIN “the ball is on the one-yard line,” and that only some minor details remained outstanding. A month later news prematurely broke that the sides had reached a final agreement.
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