December 4, 1989

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HEADLINE NEWS

Defense Cuts May Force Trade-off Between New Systems and Upgrades

WASHINGTON The massive downsizing of long-range defense spending plans will force the Pentagon to make difficult choices between moving ahead with new, high-technology weapon programs or upgrading existing systems.

By JOHN D. MORROCCO5 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Airbus Industrie Partners Approve Development of Stretched A320

PARIS Airbus Industrie’s partner companies have given the go-ahead for a stretched version of the A320 transport on a schedule that will lead to certification of the twin-engine, single-aisle aircraft in December, 1993. Formal approval for launch of the stretched aircraft—designated the A321—was given in Frankfurt by the Airbus Industrie consortium’s supervisory board at its monthly meeting Nov. 24.

By JEFFREY M. LENOROVITZ5 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Twa Unions Attempt to Shape Strategy for Gaining Leverage Over Airline Sale

NEW YORK Trans World Airlines’ three major unions are attempting to draft a common strategy to influence a sale or liquidation of the airline by its chairman and owner, Carl C. Icahn. The nascent coalition will face its first test this week, when leaders of the Air Line Pilots Assn, at TWA meet in St. Louis to review and vote on specific proposals for responding to a sale or liquidation.

By JAMES T. MCKENNA5 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Pilots, Flight Attendants End Walkout at Eastern

NEW YORK The Air Line Pilots Assn, is negotiating with Eastern Airlines to preserve as many jobs as possible for 2,250 of its members who ended their strike of the carrier after 264 days. ALPA notified the airline Nov. 22 that its 2,250 remaining Eastern members would no longer honor picket lines erected by striking members of the International Assn, of Machinists and Aerospace Workers on Mar. 4. ALPA began the walkout with 3,600 pilots at Eastern.

HEADLINE NEWS

Air Force Chooses Basing Sites for Rail-mobile Mx Missile

WASHINGTON The U. S. Air Force has chosen six bases as sites for rail-basing of the MX missile in addition to the main MX railgarrison operating base at F. E. Warren AFB, Wyo. The sites are Barksdale AFB, La.; Dyess AFB, Tex.; Fairchild AFB, Wash.; Grand Forks AFB, N. D.; Little Rock AFB, Ark, and Wurtsmith AFB, Mich.

HEADLINE NEWS

Columbia Rolled Out; Discovery Completes Military Mission

CAPE CANAVERAL Space shuttle Columbia was rolled out through a dense fog to Launch Pad 39A in preparation for launch on STS-32 less than a day after Discovery completed its most recent flight with a landing just before sunset at Edwards AFB, Calif. Launch Pad 39A has not been used since Jan. 12, 1986.

November 271989

December 111989

December 4, 1989

December 4, 1989