United Airlines officials confirm departure from Indy INDIANAPOLIS (AP) ? United Airlines has permanently closed its aircraft maintenance base at Indianapolis International Airport. A two-sentence statement about the closure by the airline on Friday dashed any lingering hopes that the site might yet survive the airline's restructuring plan. On April 11, Mayor Bart Peterson said it was "inconceivable" the airline would resume operations at the base that employed 1,500 workers, including 1,100 mechanics. UAL Corp., United's parent company, said it filed a motion Friday in federal bankruptcy court in Chicago "to reject its lease at IMC (Indianapolis Maintenance Center) in order to make permanent the closing of the facility" along with a second repair base in Oakland, Calif. United issued a temporary closing order for Indianapolis' facility on April 6. Friday's decision came in stark contrast to the celebration a dozen years ago when state and local leaders landed the base ? then one of the nation's largest economic development projects. United pays the airport $690,000 annually to lease land under the base. "We will definitely pursue any legal claims with respect to rent and other payments. We are looking at any potential claims we have," said Melina Kennedy, the city's director of economic development. The city and airport also will continue to conduct audits to make sure United doesn't leave with more than $30 million in tools and equipment purchased with economic incentives that state, city and Hendricks County officials used to land the maintenance facility. United already has paid the city $34 million in penalties for missing the first round of employment targets. The base was to employ 7,500 workers by 2004 under terms of a $300 million incentive package by state and local governments. United is on the hook for a total of $100 million in penalties, although it's unclear how bankruptcy court will treat that claim. *************************************************** The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site/TnTisland.com Roj (Roger James) escape email mailto:ejames@xxxxxxxxx Trinbago site: www.tntisland.com Carib Brass Ctn site www.tntisland.com/caribbeanbrassconnection/ Steel Expressions www.mts.net/~ejames/se/ Site of the Week: http://www.cso.gov.tt TnT Webdirectory: http://search.co.tt *********************************************************