Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, December 9, 1993                   TAG: 9312130296
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

IN BUSINESS

WASHINGTON - A private group seeking to recall General Motors pickup trucks that have a controversial fuel tank design asked the government Wednesday to strengthen the federal standard for fuel systems.

"If you survive the crash, you should not burn to death," said Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration already is deciding whether to upgrade its fuel system standard. The rules now limit the amount of fuel leakage permitted in front and rear crashes at 30 mph, and in side impact crashes at 20 mph. Ditlow said he thinks tanks should be able to withstand crashes at 45 mph. - Associated Press

\ Strike cost airline $160 million plus

FORT WORTH, Texas - Last month's five-day flight attendants' strike against American Airlines cost the carrier more than $160 million and will cause parent AMR Corp. to report its fourth straight annual loss, company officials said.

Before the strike, analysts had expected AMR to post a modest profit for 1993. The Fort Worth-based company reported a net profit of $143 million during the first nine months of the year.

AMR has lost more than $1.2 billion since 1990.

Michael Durham, American's senior vice president for finance, said the strike by members of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants caused about 1.3 million passengers who otherwise would have flown on American's jets to fly on competing carriers or to stay at home. - Fort Worth Star-Telegram