European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 9, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 the stars and stripes wednesday january 9,1991 stateside airlines Post lowest rate of baggage complaints Washington a the nations 12 largest airlines set a record in november for the fewest reports of lost baggage. They also had their second Best month for on time arrivals and fewest traveler complaints. The department of transportation said in its monthly air travel consumer report that there were 5.6 1 reports of mishandled baggage per 1,000 passengers in november. That was the lowest rate since airlines began reporting such data in september 1987. / explaining that weather conditions account for a the biggest source of complaints a Bill Jackman of the air transport association said the airlines were helped by Good weather throughout the country around thanksgiving. In Good weather he said planes Are More Likely to arrive on time baggage connections Are made and travellers have less to complain about. The government said the airlines Vivere on time 84.fi percent of the time in november compared with 82.4 percent in october. The Best rate for on time arrivals was 85.6 percent in september 1.988. The transportation department got 642 complaints about the airlines in november 51 fewer than the month before. A a the Best record was-58 j complaints in june 1990. . Group to Purchase soviet reactor for satellites Albuquerque . A a . Group has struck a Deal to buy from the soviets in advanced nuclear reactor similar to those that have powered soviet spy satellites for decades . Researchers said tuesday v the Topaz 2 space nuclear Power system will be tested by an Alliance of Albuquerqu a area Federal research laboratories and the University of new Mexico. The group Hopes to develop the technology for american use. A a a Quot a. V a a it would be the first major Sale Between the superpowers of a technology with military potential since the end of the cold War. A the Purchase and research agreements were announced during a news conference at the eighth annual symposium on space nuclear Power systems running through thursday in  Dick Verga director of key technologies for the Federal strategic defense initiative organization said his office has entered into an agreement with the Alliance for a five year research and development program for Power systems in outer space. A / he said details of the agreement with the soviets to buy Topaz 2 Are still under negotiation. The total research program will Cost $100 million he said but he would not release the Cost of the Topaz 2 itself. The new York times reported tuesday that the Cost is said to be around $10 million. Verga said the agreement for the soviet technology is not a a government to government agreement. The soviet Institute of atomic Energy has agreed to give International scientific products of san Jose Calif., exclusive rights to Market the soviet thermionic reactors and their components in the United states. A this is not a cooperative research and development program Between the United states and the soviet Union. This is an equipment Purchase a Verga said. The system to be studied will be electrically powered not . It is designed so that it can be electrically heated and tested at full Power output after Assembly. A a a a / a a a a a when the device is used in a satellite nuclear fuel is added just before launch and the nuclear system is started after the satellite has attained a Safe orbit a space reactors can generate More electricity than the. Solar panels usually found on satellites and Are designed to operate up to five years. A they can be used for spy satellites space weapons and civilian spacecraft and have also been envisioned As a Way to Speed manned Mission to Mars. Topaz 2 is 6 feet wide and 12 feet Long weighs a ton and generates Between 6,000 and 10,000 Watts the times said. / Quot to a a a soviet scientists announced two years ago that they had developed the extremely efficient reactor and had launched two experimental devices into space. At the same time they offered to sell the reactor to the West. A the soviets desperately needed the Cash and we have something to learn from the technology a said Steven Aftergood a space analyst who has monitored the Purchase for the private federation of american Scien lists in Washington. A Republican governors inaugurated in 3 states Sacramento Calif. A Republican Pete Wilson was sworn in As governor monday facing a $6 billion deficit and democratic majorities in both houses of the legislature. 1 elsewhere Minnesota inaugurated Long shot Guber Nator Lul Victor Arne Carlson and gov. Tommy g. Thompson took the oath in Wisconsin after promising improved schools and efforts to reduce violence in Mil a Vauken without raising taxes. Shortly before being sworn in Wilson resigned the . Senate seat he has held for eight years. The ceremony was moved inside As the first substantial rainstorm in weeks swept across the drought plagued Sacramento Valley. Guests included White House chief of staff John Sununu. I a Vilson who narrowly Defeated former san Francisco mayor Dianne Feinstein offered an Olive Branch to i democrats promising to work for bipartisan solutions and stressing education health and environmental programs supported by most democrats. A together lets bring a new government Wise enough to invest in children As Well As infrastructure determined to shift from the remedial to the preventive from income maintenance to enrichment of individual,potential,1�?TWilson said j Wilson also promised to a make government work again by ending the years of partisan stalemate Between his Republican predecessor George Dukmejian arid the democratic majority of the legislature. A if we share that responsibility wisely and in Good Faith if we do the Peoples bus Tiess and make state government work for them we will find there is ample credit to share As Well. For my part in a eager to embrace old friends and new ideas to achieve the future that California deserves a Wilson said. Wilson acknowledged the severe budget crisis that his new administration faces with a deficit estimated at $6 billion in a $55 billion annual budget. He did no to discuss specific fiscal proposal but spoke Wisconsin gov. Tommy g. Thompson Waves to the crowd alter being inaugurated monday in Madison. In favoi1 of additional programs to provide prenatal care for poor women dropout prevention in schools and drug education. ,. A prevention is far better than any cure a he said. A no longer can we be satisfied with reactive and remedial efforts. Even in this time of unprecedented fiscal constraint we must find a Way to at least begin to move to a Mode of anticipation and prevention a Wilson said. In St. Paul minn., Republican Carlson was formally sworn in As the states 37th governor a Little did i think on september 12lh that i Ever would be Here today. In a somewhat fearful that my speech May be longer than my Campaign a Carlson quipped. Carlson who Defeated incumbent Democrat Rudy Perpich began campaigning just two weeks before the election lie replaced the Gopas nominee who was driven from the race by allegations of sexual improprieties. A. A a a a Aat an ecumenical service sunday Carlson focused on the need for ethics. A i think we should have reverence for Minnesota for god for people a Carlson said after the service. In Madison wis., Thompson said the state would riot take second place to anyone As he was sworn in for a second four year term. A and when our Job is done the Star of the Snowbell will become the Strong Bright Beacon that leads our nation into the 21st Century a Wisconsin that outshines every other state in every possible Way a he said. Republican Thompson who has pledged not to raise taxes said earlier that he Learned from president Bush a failure to keep his 1988 a read my lips tax Promise. A George made a mistake and i think he knows it. He compromised too much on that a Thompson said in an interview Friday with the associated press a a we re not going to do  _ facing a projected $712 million deficit Thompson has ordered a freeze on state hiring he requested agencies to Cut $150 million from  budgets and mandated the agencies to keep spending increase requests for next year at or below 2.5 percent. Elsewhere the Texas legislature convenes tuesday facing a projected $4.2 billion budget deficit and with House speaker Gib Lewis under indictment Oyer Misdemeanour ethics violations. An Austin grand jury on dec. 28 indicted Lewis on charges of taking a gift from a powerful san Antonio Law firm failing to report it Arr failing to properly disclose a business interest. Lewis has denied any wrongdoing and said he expects to be re elected to an unprecedented fifth term As speaker.  Ann Richards will be inaugurated Jan. 15. Exciton d-c9s reportedly flawed Detroit up a government tests have found an apparent flaw in the handle of the rear emergency exit on Mcdonnell Douglas dc-9s such As the Jet that burned after a Detroit runway collision last month a published report said tuesday. According to1 a Jan. 2 internal National transportation safety Board memo acquired by the Detroit free press the tests indicate the handle can break if it is pulled at an Angle rather than directly outward. On dec. 3, a Northwest airlines dc-9 strayed onto the wrong runway in dense fog and was clipped by a larger Jet on a Takeoff Roll at Detroit metropolitan Airport. The dc-9 burst into flames killing eight people. Two bodies were found in a rear Pas Sage near the exit. At the time Nosb officials said the exit release handle which opens the Tail Cone was broken on the damaged Jet. According to the Nosb memo a it is pot known at this Point whether a passenger of a flight attendant. In the aft portion of the airline attempted to open the exit and broke the handle inadvertently or if it was broken  the Nosb staff proposed Recomb nations for the Board to Send to the f Era aviation administration regard dc-9s�?T rear exit door handles the me said. A a a a the recommendations were not so Ifield in the memo How Ever a Tab spokesman Alan Pollock sail had not seem the memo and decline comment on the report