lly critical in relation to China Air, an airline that has experienced a rash of airliner accidents in the 1990s. In response to this concern, China Air has negotiated an agreement with the UND Aerospace Program at the University of North Dakota to train the airline's pilots. This action by China Air provides a basis for a strong public relations effort to promote the airline's concern for safety to American consumers of airline services.
JAL has an outstanding safety record, although even the best airlines experience airliner accidents. In the wake of a 1985 crash, the JAL president offered personal financial and psychological support to surviving family members, and the president attended the memorial service for those who died in the crash. Publicity given these actions by the JAL president created a strong public image for JAL, especially when compared to the actions of Pan American Airlines in the wake of a 1988 crash. The Pan American president expressed his condolences to surviving family members, but offered no assistance and did not attend the memorial service for those who dies in the crash.
Americans also have other concerns related to the penetration of new markets in the United States by foreign airlines. The overcrowding of airports is worrisome to Americans for reasons of both safety and noise pollution.
In the 13 years since the air traffic controllers strike in the United States, the situation has not improved with respect to air traffic safety. While the FAA does now have a trained permanent staff of air traffic controllers, the numerical size of that staff is smaller that the size of the staff before the strike in 1981. Over the past 10 years, however, air traffic in the United States has increased by more than one-third. If the effect on air transportation safety of a substandard number of air traffic controllers was negative in 1981, little imagination is required t...