- Fox guarding chicken coop?
"Does it bother you that Norton holds the documentation?"
"No, not at all."
"And you're satisfied that the certification process was proper?"
"Oh sure. And like I said, the plane was certified five years ago."
"I've been hearing that the Europeans are dissatisfied with the entire process of certification."
"Well, you know," Wilson said, adopting a diplomatic tone, "the JAA's a relatively new organization. Unlike the FAA, they have no statutory authority. So, I think they're still trying to decide how they want to proceed."
She called the information office for Airbus Industries in Washington, and got put through to a marketing guy named Samuelson. He reluctantly confirmed that he had heard of the JAA confirmation delays, though he didn't have any details.
"But Norton's having a lot of problems these days," he said. "For example, I think the China sale is not as firm as they pretend it is."
This was the first she had heard of a China sale. She wrote:
Chapter 12
- China sale N-22?
She said, "Uh-huh..."
"I mean, let's face it," Samuelson continued, "The Airbus A-340 is a superior plane in every way. It's newer than the Norton widebody. Better range. It's better in every way. We've been trying to explain this to the Chinese, and they are starting to understand our perspective. Anyway, if I had to guess, I'd guess the Norton sale to the People's Republic is going to fall apart. And of course safety concerns are part of that decision. Off the record, I think the Chinese are very concerned the plane is unsafe."
- C thinks airplane unsafe.
"Who would I talk to about that?" she said.
"Well, as you know, the Chinese are generally reluctant to discuss negotiations in progress," Samuelson said. "But I know a guy over at Commerce who may be able to help you. He's with the Ex-Im Bank, which provides long-term financing for overseas sales."
"What's his name?" she said.
His name was Robert Gordon. It took fifteen minutes for the operator at the Commerce Department to find him. Jennifer doodled. Finally the secretary said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Gordon is in a meeting."
"I'm calling from Newsline" she said.
"Oh." A pause. "Just a minute, please."
She smiled. It never failed.
Gordon came on, and she asked him about the JAA certification, and the Norton sale to the People's Republic. "Is it true the sale is in jeopardy?"
"Every airplane sale is in jeopardy until it's concluded, Ms. Malone," Gordon said. "But as far as I know, the China sale is in good standing. I did hear a rumor that Norton is having trouble with JAA certification for Europe."
"What's the trouble there?"
"Well," Gordon said, "I'm not really an aircraft expert, but the company's had an awful lot of problems."
- Norton has problems.
Gordon said, "There was that thing in Miami yesterday. And of course you heard about that incident in Dallas."
"What's that?"
"Last year, they had an engine flameout on the runway. And everybody jumped off the plane. A bunch of people broke their legs jumping off the wings."
- Dallas incident - engine/broken legs. Tape?
She said, "Uh-huh..."
"I don't know about you," Gordon said, "but I don't like to fly very much, and uh, Jesus Christ, people are jumping off the airplane, that's not a plane I'd want to be on."
She wrote:
- jumping off plane YOW!
- unsafe aircraft.
And beneath it, in large block letters, she wrote:
DEATHTRAP.
She called Norton Aircraft for their version of the story. She got a PR guy named Benson. He sounded like one of those drawling, half-asleep corporate guys. She decided to hit him right between the eyes. "I want to ask you about the Dallas incident."
"Dallas?" His voice sounded startled.
Good.
"Last year," she said. "You had a flameout of the engine, and people jumped off the plane. Broke their legs."
"Oh, right. That incident involved a 737," Benson said.
- incident w/737.
"Uh-huh. Well, what can you tell me about it?"
"Nothing," Benson said. "That wasn't our plane."
"Oh, come on," she said. "Look, I already know about the incident."
"That's a Boeing plane."
She sighed. "Jesus. Give me a break." It was so tedious, the way these PR types stonewalled. As if a good investigative reporter would never find out the truth. They seemed to think if they didn't tell her, no one would.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Malone, but we don't make that plane."
"Well, if that's really true," she said, her tone openly sarcastic, "I suppose you can tell me how I can confirm it?"
"Yes ma'am," Benson said. "You dial area code 206 and ask for Boeing. They'll help you."
Click.
Jesus! What a prick! How could these companies treat the media this way? You piss off a reporter, you'll always get paid back. Didn't they understand that?
She called Boeing, asked for the PR department. She got an answering machine, some bitch reciting a fax number and saying questions should be faxed, and they would get back to her. Unbelievable, Jennifer thought. A major American corporation, and they didn't even answer the phone.
Irritably, she hung up. There was no point in waiting. If the Dallas incident involved a Boeing plane, she had no story.
No damn story.
She drummed her fingers on the desk, trying to decide what to do.
She called Norton back, saying she wanted to talk to someone in management, not PR. She was put through to the president's office, then was transferred to some woman named Singleton. "How can I help you?" the woman said. "I understand there's been a delay in European certification of the N-22. What's the problem with the plane?" Jennifer asked.