The Immediacy of Aviation Woes

Regarding the July 12 Business story "Feeling Airlines' Pain, Airports Seek Help in D.C.":

As airlines and airports face 10 to 20 percent losses in air service because of high energy costs, resulting in layoffs and economic hardship for not only the smaller airports but major ones too, Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, in speaking to the American Association of Airport Executives this month, had nothing to offer except the assertion that the executives support "Republican initiatives to increase domestic oil production."

Apparently, Ms. Peters feels that oil production from as yet unbuilt oil wells in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and offshore could be set up in a matter of days and the newly drilled oil would hit the market by next weekend.

Does Ms. Peters understand that this crisis is immediate? Does she understand that long before oil could ever flow from any new wells that the airline, trucking and any other petroleum-based industries just may be destroyed? How about some real leadership from the head of the Transportation Department? How about coming up with a plan beyond the administration's mantra of drill, drill, drill? For once, think of emergency measures such as curbing speculation that could help now, not in 10 years.

STEVEN BERSON

Bethesda