Wichita-based aircraft parts maker Spirit AeroSystems is trying to fill 500 jobs.

The Wichita Eagle (http://bit.ly/1IaYzYl) reports that the effort involved a job fair Saturday morning at the Spirit Employment Office. The focus of the fair was filling 350 openings for assembly mechanics.

The company says the Boeing 737 program is driving their need for workers. Spirit builds the fuselage and other major components of Boeing’s best-selling single aisle passenger jet. Production of the 737 is expected to increase.

Jim Hans, director of operations for Spirit’s 737 fuselage program, says the company has a $46 billion backlog.

Spirit also builds parts for Boeing’s other commercial airliners and some Airbus jets.
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Information from: The Wichita (Kan.) Eagle, http://www.kansas.com