Adam Aircraft Suspends Operations

Millions in corporate welfare are seemingly insufficient to keep Adam's Hinkley Field doors open

By Curmudgeon

I imagine the news this morning that Adam Aircraft has shut down manufacturing operations in Ogden and is laying off its workforce is going to produce a fair number of "we told you so" posts, and probably some downright crowing in these parts.

Before that starts, I think it's worth remembering that this is not good news for Ogden and that a significant number of our neighbors are now without income, or much. The company, what's left of it, is being very close-mouthed about the long-term implications of the move, though a company spokesperson does concede "this is not good." Let's hope the delayed FAA certification of their new model [which seems to be the reason for the shut-down, or so the company says] gets straightened out and operations can begin again some months down the road.

That said, the shut down does raise some questions about the business judgment of both Utah state and Ogden city development officials, who recently approved millions of dollars in financial incentives to lure Adam Aircraft into expanding its manufacturing operations in Ogden.

And what say our gentle readers about all this?

Update 1/17/08 11:24 a.m. MT: More on this story from the Denver Post. It appears that Adam's problems are even more serious than the Standard-Examiner reported.