AEROSPACE

Hughes to Close Division: In a blow to one of Orange County’s “master-planned” communities, Hughes Aircraft Co. plans to close a division in Rancho Santa Margarita by mid-year and move the operation to Carlsbad, clouding the future of nearly 500 employees. The aerospace giant’s decision is a setback for the Santa Margarita Co., which manages the 5,000-acre residential community and business park. Hughes is the biggest tenant and a central part of the developer’s plan to create “one of Southern California’s most dynamic corporate environments” where residents can live, work and shop in a self-contained community.