Sir - The Comment "Hands off" (Flight International, 21-27 May) appropriately addresses the real problem of European aerospace-industry integration.
This difÌculty is also highlighted in the problems surrounding Aerospatiale and the valuation of its intellectual property rights in the negotiations to formalise Airbus Industrie as a standalone corporation.
I can see a growing crisis if European corporations delay further the implementation of vital merger decisions which will create a viable industry able to compete with the likes of Lockheed Martin and Boeing/McDonnell Douglas.
The US industry's recent sweeping rationalisation programme, linked with substantial cuts made by the Clinton Administration on Social Security payments, is now creating a substantial advantage in the cost of manufacturing compared to that of Europe.
This problem, linked with a ridiculously low retirement age and the over-generous state-pension programmes in France, Germany and Netherlands, has the making of an inefficient, overpriced and uncompetitive aerospace industry.
As you rightly imply, Brussels should be less concerned with Boeing's innovate marketing proposals and address as a priority the serious problem of European industrial competitiveness in the 21st century.
Time is running out.
Michael Jolley
Tucson, Arizona, USA
-Sir - As a condition of the North American Aviation and Rockwell-Standard merger approval, the Rockwell Jet Commander business-jet line was sold to Israel Aircraft Industries. The reason was that North American produced the competing Sabreliner.
The rationale is thus more persuasive that the Douglas airliner business be sold separately before a Boeing-McDonnell Douglas merger is approved.
John Chevedden
Redondo Beach
California, USA
Source: Flight International
