Aerospace Jobs

You owe more to your readers than your shallow treatment of the Russian-American space station announcement (editorial, Sept. 6).

The sentence, “U.S. aerospace skills could help Russia get some of the customers who are wait-listed for France’s Ariane rocket,” defies logic if you are an American aerospace worker who helps build the Delta rocket in Huntington Beach. The Delta is prime competition to Ariane in the ever-tightening commercial launch market. How does helping Russia compete against U.S. companies “create business for U.S. firms”? Please be aware of what you are proposing here. The commercial launch market and space station are prime examples of U.S. defense conversion in action. Let’s not give up too many American jobs.

THOMAS E. WILLIAMS, Director, Communications, McDonnell Douglas, Huntington Beach