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Langley Research Center at Stake: 1,000 Jobs

Posted on: Wednesday, 9 February 2005, 21:00 CST

BY ALLISON CONNOLLY

THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

HAMPTON Langley Research Center will be forced to eliminate 1,000 jobs almost a quarter of its work force next year if Congress approves a $111 million cut to its budget.

On Monday, President Bush proposed a $16.5 billion budget for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for fiscal 2006.

Thats a 2.4 percent increase, but its about $500 million less than what the agency had requested.

NASA is putting more money into exploring space while spending less on Langleys specialty, the study of flight within the earths atmosphere, or aeronautics.

If Congress approves the presidents budget request, Langleys overall funding would fall from $668 million in fiscal 2005 to $557 million the following year. Its work force would drop from 3,900 contract and civil service workers to 2,900. The center said it hopes to make most of the cuts through attrition and buyouts.

For additional funding, Langley must compete against the agencys nine other field centers including three that also specialize in aeronautics. Langley Director Roy Bridges said the job cuts will reduce his centers overhead costs and make it more competitive. If successful, the center could win back some of the money that is cut, he said.

Were going to look at some more radical restructuring that would put us in a better posture to get it, he said. I dont have any details on something like that, but well be putting a plan in high gear over this next year.

The layoffs would have a significant effect on Hampton Roads because the jobs are technical and typically pay well . All but four employees hold at least a high school degree, and 340 employees hold doctorates. Officials estimate the center last year pumped $193.5 million into Hampton Roads economy through contracts and another $242 million through payroll. An economic impact study prepared for Langley shows that the center has an overall economic impact of $2.61 billion a year.

Sen. George F. Allen, R-Va., called the cuts bad for American competition.

I intend to join with my colleagues in Congress to work not only for this aeronautics research, which is so vital for our future competitiveness and military capability, but also for the Virginia workers affected by these proposed cuts, Allen said in a statement.

A spokesman for U.S. Rep. Thelma Drake, R-2nd District , said she will be meeting with Bridges to discuss the cuts.

The layoffs would take place over the next fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1 and ends Sept. 30, 2006. Bridges said he does not know how many civil service workers would be laid off compared with contractors. The center employs 1,800 civil service workers and 2,100 contractors for a total of 3,900. Bridges said that no civil service layoffs will occur this fiscal year.

In a teleconference with reporters from NASA headquarters in Washington, administrator Sean OKeefe painted a positive picture of the presidents $16.5 billion budget request. He said the agency is getting more funding now that the president has given it direction.

The presidents budget is $500 million less than what the agency had hoped for, but it is $1.4 billion more than what the agency would have gotten had its mission stayed the same. OKeefe said there are no plans to close any of the agencys 10 field centers.

In his budget request, the president increased funding for several key items, including: returning the space shuttle to flight; designing the Crew Exploration Vehicle, which will replace the space shuttle; and developing nuclear propulsion for a space-going vehicle.

Under aeronautics, the agency identified three fields of research it hopes will yield more immediate breakthroughs: aviation safety, aerospace systems and vehicle systems.

Related projects would include managing air traffic, reducing sonic boom, eliminating air pollution from aircraft and developing remote-controlled aircraft.

Three other centers will compete against Langley for aeronautics work: Glenn Research Center in Cleveland; Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, Calif.; and Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

Funding for aeronautics would steadily decline over the next several years, dropping from $906.2 million in 2005 to $717.6 million in 2010. Langleys aeronautics budget would fall from $388 million this year to $296 million next year.

Langleys funding for vehicle systems research next year would drop by $89 million, which could threaten the wind tunnels that the center uses to test the aerodynamics of vehicle design.

If the center doesnt find contractors to use the facilities, NASA will close them, Bridges said. This would have a ripple effect on colleges and companies throughout Hampton Roads that also use the facilities.

Bridges does not think these cuts would lead to Langleys closure. He said the center will have to solicit business from private industry to keep its wind tunnels and other facilities busy.

The core competencies we have here at Langley are very much in demand, Bridges said. We believe we will compete well. We intend to compete and win.

The center will offer buyouts and early retirement packages. About 246 employees qualify for retirement, and an additional 453 could retire five years early. The center will offer those workers an early retirement package that is 2.5 percent less a year than those who qualify for retirement, plus a $25,000 bonus that should offset the lower annuity, Bridges said. Other workers will be offered a chance to transfer to other centers or take buyout packages.

J. Victor Lebacqz, associate administrator of NASAs office of aeronautics, is scheduled to meet with Langley employees about the cuts on Thursday .

Staff writer Jim Washington contributed to this report.

* Reach Allison Connolly at 446-2318 or allison.connolly@pilotonline. com.

Source: Virginian - Pilot

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