71.   Sakai often came together with American pilots, seeking to gain closure and repair relations.

72.   She sat through the tough crises, including whether to bomb Iraq and how to rescue an American pilot downed in enemy Yugoslav territory.

73.   Several American pilots reported seeing spheres of light or shiny metal floating in the sky that neither side claimed to have launched.

74.   Some American pilots point to a corporate culture at the airline that they say values profits over safety as perhaps one reason for the recent crashes.

75.   Still, Pentagon officials said, no Taliban aircraft has been seen taking to the skies to oppose American pilots and no American planes have been lost.

76.   Some military analysts argue that American pilots are getting good training, rather than being overworked.

77.   Still, intelligence experts have briefed the American pilots about Chinese ships and planes and the weapons they carry, and the carrier is on a low-level alert status.

78.   Taliban officials cut power across the city to confuse American pilots, Ahmad said.

79.   That sort of conflict would certainly carry some risk for American pilots, but nothing like the sort faced by ground troops in the same situation.

80.   That way, if American pilots ever faced the system in combat, they could attempt to jam or deceive it.