Wichita ? Cessna Aircraft Co. plans to hire as many as 500 sheet-metal workers to meet an uptick in business jet sales, another sign that this city’s aviation industry is making a comeback from the slump that led to thousands of layoffs.

The decision marked the second time in the past several months that Cessna had said it planned to expand its work force of 8,700 people in Wichita.

In October, Cessna said it planned to hire 600 workers — most of which have already been hired, Cessna spokeswoman Jessica Myers said. Cessna has been adding workers to fill orders across its line of business jets, Myers said.

Last year, Cessna delivered 181 jets. It expects to deliver 235 this year.

Most new workers are being hired to meet that demand, with only a small number replacing people who have left through normal attrition.

Myers said the aviation industry was making a comeback from an economic slump that started in 2001.