The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that CAE is cutting 280 jobs and potentially selling three facilities in Europe as it braces for a downturn in spending by its civilian airline customers. The Globe's Andrew Willis and Nicolas Van Praet write that on Wednesday, CAE said it will lay off about 2 per cent of its employees, including engineers and software programmers. The cuts are part of its new strategy to align its work force with decreasing demand for simulators and aircrew training from civilian airlines. Increasing geopolitical instability is reshaping defence and creating new sales opportunities for that part of CAE's business as well, but much of the government spending fueling the growth will not take effect until several years from now. To cut costs, CAE also put training centres in Barcelona, Brussels and Stockholm under review, and could sell or close the properties. CAE has about 20 training facilities in Europe and remains focused on expanding its sales to European civilian and military customers. In recent months, CAE announced plans to close facilities in Orlando, Fla., and Broken Arrow, Okla. CAE said these actions aim to strengthen its future focus on "key strengths and differentiators."