By Eileen Buckley
East Aurora, NY – Hardware systems designed by a local company are no doubt part of the US war against Iraq. Moog Incorporated of East Aurora is one of the world's major suppliers of parts for military aircraft.
B-2 bombers and guided missiles contain hardware components created by Moog. The company also designs flight control parts for military C-5 transport and F-14 Tomcat aircraft.
Executive vice president Joe Green, who declined a recorded interview, says while the military business is up for Moog, the company is suffering a drop in the commercial airline industry.
Last Friday, Moog was was forced to lay off up to 60 employees and 40 temporary workers. But Green says it was a direct result of a "depressed commercial airline market." Moog is a big supplier to Boeing.
He says economic conditions for the company began deteriorating after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Green says military contracts remain less than half of the company's business. Moog also designs parts for a number of other fighter military aircraft.