"One of the things we learn from accidents is to change the aircraft to making them safer, " said University of Southern California Professor Michael Barr.

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Specific terms and details of the deal may ultimately change, but at the moment it looks as though Lockheed will make 21 models of the aircraft for the Air Force, six for the Navy and three for the Marine Corp.

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Joseph Bruno, the state Senate majority leader, who has been at loggerheads with Mr Spitzer since the summer (Mr Spitzer's office accused Mr Bruno of abusing his aircraft privileges), says the policy change is unconstitutional and contradicts a federal act which requires, among other things, a valid Social Security number to get a driver's licence.

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Advanced anti-aircraft missiles like the SA-17 in the hands of Hezbollah could change the strategic equation, which so far has allowed Israel to send warplanes over Lebanon practically unopposed.

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Opponents reckon they have colluded in making up optimistic projections about the speed with which airlines will change to yet-to-be-built clean, quiet aircraft.

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The A380 is designed to carry larger numbers of people between hubs where they can change onto smaller aircraft to reach their final destinations.

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