AIR SAFETY II . . . USAIR DISPUTES NY TIMES REPORT

USAir -- the target of ongoing study since two of its jetliners were involved in fatal crashes this year -- criticized a report published Sunday by The New York Times, which claimed the airline has allowed jets to leave gates without enough fuel at least nine times and once used a jet for 13 days despite a dangerous crack on its wing flap. USAir said it had followed federal guidelines in all these cases except an emergency landing at La Guardia, in which it said personnel deviated from established refueling procedures. (USAir says it suspended the pilot and first officer without pay for two months and forced them to repeat their training.) The newspaper stood by its story.Post your opinion on theScience & Technologybulletin board.