Airbus Should Get U.S. Into Jet Project

* The new aircraft isn’t a bad idea in and of itself [Airbus to Gauge Demand for Super-Jumbo Jetliner,” Dec. 9]. The problem is the titanic endeavor of Airbus and the Europeans’ egos to do it themselves. It would be better for the Europeans to enter into a partnership with one of the big U.S. aerospace firms, to share the costs, risks and benefits.

This consortium would do better with multiple partners. California has a huge population of highly skilled aerospace workers. The super-jumbo jet in part could be assembled in our state, benefiting from professional aerospace engineers and assemblers here.

This would make the jet appeal more to potential U.S. buyers and could help to lower the huge trade deficit the U.S. has with the world. It could also shield Airbus from gigantic risks inherent in the field of aerospace with all the ups and downs of the world economy.

FRANK WATERS

Anaheim