European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 26, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 the stars and stripes Friday september 26,1986 army rework costs excessive auditors say by Rici Ardc. Gross up military writer Washington the army in a practice that May he widespread in inc military wasted millions of dollars by paying contractors too much o protect against the faulty production of already proven missiles a confidential Pentagon report showed thursday. Whai has developed is a common business practice that is clearly in favour bli1 to the army said the audit by the Pentagon s inspector general. A also urged the defense department to Lake further at Lions to determine the scope of the problem throughout the military. The study details the practice of pay ing a contractor a Correct deficiencies rework costs that arise when a production line weapon is manufactured called by to buy acceptance tests. Dated april 1, inc .18-Page report was classified confidential because of can tractor proprietary information and was obtained by United Cress International through the Freedom of information act. In it auditors questioned whether it was necessary to negotiate a Fly to buy program since Federal regulations do not make it Clear whether the pro Gram is part of Normal inspection proce dures or is an Extension of them. The army assumed Fly to buy to be an Extension As if it were added insurance the report showed. Used by the army s missile Cpd in Huntsville ala., As an inc live for Lough Quality control measures on the production line Fly to buy costs were found by inc auditors to be excessive adding millions of dollars to the Price lag for a weapon to the Benefit of the contractor. The report focused on contracts for the shoulder fired Slinger anti aircraft missile Between fiscal years 1978 and 1984 in which inc army paid j8.9 Mil lion in rework costs to inc Pomona Divi Sion of the general dynamics corp. The contractor s actual rework expense was an estimated $86,005, the study said. Auditors also found the army wasted s5.4 million by firing too Many missiles in testing an advanced version of inc stinger earn costing 12,000. The army also paid s20 million in rework costs for four other proven mis Siles and army officials told the auditors the other services have similar programs the report said. The Pentagon however responding to a query said in had reviewed procedures in the Navy air Force and defense logistics Agency the services spare parts buyer and found it was not necessary to change the  an army spokesman said the missile come was studying he report and has t done anything As a result of this study the auditors did not suggest eliminating the Fly to buy program but said in May not be necessary to add he program to a Standard contract for a weapon thai has a history of High Quality production. Under existing contracts the report said substantial amounts of rework costs will be paid even Hough documented evidence indicates that the Quality of stinger missiles produced has been consistently High and contractor risk is  moreover the Money will be paid whether or not rework costs Are actually incurred ii said. Esa wants to bring piece of Comet Back to Earth new York up the european space Agency plans to land a robot spacecraft on a Comet in 199$ to Lake a Sample of the Basic stuff of the solar system and it wants Nasa to help. The european space Agency successfully launched the Giotto spacecraft that flew within a few Hundred Miles of Halley s Comet in March and radioed Back the first close up pictures of the Core of a Cornel. They Are on a Roll and they want logo one step further John Wood an adviser to the european Agency and director of the Harvard smithsonian Center for astrophysics in Cambridge mass., said wednesday. They want to actually land on a Comet take a Core Sample and return to Earth he said. Wood said a Core Sample from a Comet would help scientists unravel secrets of the universe. This Cornel Core is the Basic stuff of the solar  he said. It s a Way of reaching Back into our history further than we Ever have  the european space Agency has already earmarked $400 million for the Mission part of an Overall space project they Call horizon 1000, Wood said. The organization s scientists have chosen six comets As possible candidates for the piggyback ride through space. Wood met with scientists from the space Agency this summer As an adviser appointed by the National aeronautics and space administration which is interested in the project he said. So far Nasa has just Given advice but i m sure Esa is looking for monetary support As Well Wood said. He estimated the ambitious Mission would cos $800 million and take several years of research. The european space Agency has inc technology to land on a moving Comet but needs to develop a Craft that can collect chunks of the icy surface and return it to Earth safely Wood said. Fumes from coffin sicken passengers on jetliner Denver a a broken Seal on a coffin in a Airliner s cargo hold allowed fumes from in exhumed body 10 seep Inlo the passenger compartment sicken ing several it Ople and prompting an unscheduled Landing authorities said seven passengers were treated at hospitals for nausea wednesday night after United flight 68&. In route from Las vegas. Nev., to Chicago landed Al Den ver s Stapleton International Airport. Denver police i. John Kil Patriek said a Seal apparently broke on one of two caskets in inc aircraft s cargo Section directly below the passenger area. The cof Fin contained an exhumed body destined for Pennsylvania he said. Joe Hopkins a United spokesman said the Pilot requested permission to make the Landing after passengers complained of dizziness and breaking Trou ble on the plane. The Boeing 767 jetliner carried 197 passengers and a Crew of eight he said. Hopkins said Crews repaired the Seal on the casket fumigated the air plane and in was Able to resume its flight with the remaining passengers. The ill passengers stayed in Denver overnight. Ray Friedman one of the passengers snid he started smelling the odor shortly after the plane look Oft from Las vegas. The seven ill passengers were to re sume their travels on thursday. Bodies in coffins Are routinely shipped by airlines in the cargo Section of com Mercial flights Hopkins said. "1 have heard there was a powder material they put in coffins for air trans port Hopkins said. Apparently it was not  he added hat the temperature and pressure is controlled in the cargo Bay but it usually in t kept As warm As the passenger Section unless there Are live animals on Board. Authorities said they did not know the identity of the dead body or Why it was exhumed. Herbal Tea drinking airman acquitted of cocaine charge san Antonio Texas up an air Force Drill sergeant who tested Posi Tive for cocaine use was acquitted follow ing testimony that Lea his Mother sent him probably caused Thiol result on his drug test. "1 Don t appreciate being accused of something 1 did t do sol. Robin Kordish ii said Bui it feels Good to be  Kordish 23, stationed at Lackland fab in san Antonio testified before a court martial panel wednesday that he drank a cup of herbal inca Tea the night before his drug test. Concerned for his health Kordish said he drank the Tea because in has no Caf Feine his Mother Connie Cordish told the court martial panel she sent her son packages at inc Tea she had purchased in Chicago. Or. John Vasilj Iadus chief of Quality Assurance for the air Force drug testing Laboratory at Brooks fab in san Anto Nio testified that the Lea which contains coca leaves could produce the positive result after a person drank a cup. The four members of the court martial panel following a few minutes of deliberations acquitted Kordish of the charge of drug abuse. On foggy Pond out it the break of an autumn Day a Fisherman lasts himself in the soft Haze of � Pond near Upton Moss with ills dog As company in the Intoe the Angler tries his Luck and reflects on the Trenity of uie moment