51.   Officials from the pilots union were unavailable for comment.

52.   On the brink of a strike, the independent pilots union ultimately backed down after Smith threatened to dismiss several hundred pilots.

53.   Philippine Airlines Inc. said a government ruling in favor of its pilots union may force it to cut back on orders for seven Boeing and four Airbus Industrie jets.

54.   Pilots unions are fearful of them.

55.   Pilots unions and the powerful gun lobby are gearing up to fight a decision by the Bush administration not to allow airline pilots to carry guns in the cockpit.

56.   Representatives of the pilots union did not return several calls seeking comment Sunday.

57.   Robert A. Pastore, the head of the TWA pilots union, said that the group had withdrawn its formal objections to the American plan.

58.   SECRETARY ENTERS NORTHWEST STRIKE Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater asked officials of Northwest Airlines and its striking pilots union to meet with him in Washington on Tuesday.

59.   Separate from the contract issue, the pilots union supports three shareholder proposals to be voted on at the meeting.

60.   Simmons Airlines, Flagship Airlines, Executive Airlines and Wings West each currently have their own labor agreement with the pilots union.