Ever since Lockheed Aircraft Corp. announced the cause of two crashes by its turboprop Electras (TIME, May 23), the big question has been: Who will pay to have the planes fixed? This week Lockheed was ready to sign contracts with Electra-equipped U.S. airlines obligating Lockheed to pay all direct modification costs, which it estimates will total $25 million. The lines, arguing successfully that they have already paid a high price in lost revenues and increased operating costs, will pay only minor expenses, such as flying the planes to Lockheed's Burbank, Calif,...
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