TV STATION DOWN ON BLACKHAWK

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., which manufactures the famed Blackhawk helicopter, has filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent the Pentagon from releasing documents on possible quality-control problems with the helicopter to a Connecticut television station. WTNH-TV, which aired an exposé three years ago claiming that defective parts were being installed on Blackhawks, had asked the Defense Department whether it had issued additional corrective-action requests since the original programs aired. In a statement, the station said, "It's a simple, obvious question and with so many servicemen depending on Blackhawk helicopters in Iraq and Afghanistan, never has it been never more important." In its suit, Sikorsky argues that competitors could use the information "to unfairly disparage Sikorsky's manufacturing processes and quality assurance system in the eyes of Sikorsky's customers and potential customers."

12/05/2006