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We would like to correct the damaging charges made against Evergreen Air Center Inc. by Airfreight Express of London in your article [BUSINESS, Aug. 13] about aircraft repair and maintenance. AFX's charges against us are false. Every flaw identified in the AFX lawsuit was discussed, resolved and accepted by that firm before the plane in question was delivered. AFX issued a flight certificate and placed its aircraft in service and would not have done that if there had been any issues of safety. Evergreen has always paid the utmost attention to quality workmanship that ensures the safety and reliability of every aircraft that leaves our facility. The lawsuit against us is about money, not safety. Our company has been in the business of repairing aircraft for 26 years and has a long record of outstanding quality, successfully serving many of the nation's leading passenger and cargo carriers. As you pointed out, the company has never been implicated in a major crash. TREVOR VAN HORN, PRESIDENT Evergreen Air Center Inc. Marana, Ariz.
Airlines claim to want the best maintenance for their planes, but they are unwilling to pay for it. For almost 40 years, I have been in aircraft maintenance as a mechanic and a manager with airlines and repair stations. The experience level of mechanics at repair stations is low, in part because of poor wages and inferior benefits. Airlines demand fixed-price "estimates," which repair-station management provides (despite often not knowing the condition of the plane). Inexperienced inspectors at repair stations are put under tremendous pressure to hurry their inspections, and this leads to a failure to find conditions that should be uncovered. Airlines play one repair station against another to get the best price, and the repairers make promises they cannot keep. In the end, airlines get what they pay for. NAME WITHHELD ON REQUEST Dallas
Presidents on Parade
Margaret Carlson got it right: President Bush should review a tape of Clinton opening his office in Harlem to see how to rev up enthusiasm among Americans [PUBLIC EYE, Aug. 13]. We could all probably learn a few things about communicating by studying Clinton's style. But the enthusiastic reception for Clinton is based on far more than his body language and speaking skills. We love him because he worked for policies that benefit the great majority of Americans. If Clinton were still President, tough campaign-finance and health-care reform legislation would be the law of the land instead of languishing in Congress because of presidential opposition. The more Clinton speaks out about the important issues of the day, the better off we all will be. Bring him on! Repeal the 22nd Amendment! HORACE BARKER Hixson, Texas
Clinton does nothing without the press, hype and a dog-and-pony show. You couldn't tell by his body language, but Harlem was his second choice. Bush doesn't need any lessons from Clinton. Texas is a lovely state, and the heat is just part of its character. Bush loves his state, his home and his wife, and he doesn't mind spending time with them. Everyone should vacation in Texas. OLIVIA M. BANNAN Richmond, Texas
Correction