December 6, 2002

Air Transportation Stabilization Board
1120 Vermont Avenue, Suite 970
Washington, D.C. 20020

Dear Sirs:

In 45 days I will celebrate my twenty-fifth anniversary as a United Airlines pilot. I have had two employers in my thirty-one year flying career -- United and the United States Air Force, where I spent twenty years in Active and Reserve service. I know I speak for the 125,000 active, furloughed and retired United employees and the one half million stunned family members they represent, when I express my shock and anger with the recent decision to deny UAL a loan guarantee.

In light of the horrific events of 9-11, the current economy, and the willingness of United employees to pledge significant pay cuts, this decision can only be considered un-American. No, make that anti-American, at a time when we struggle to regain our bearings as a nation in these challenging and difficult times. As a soldier who served America in Viet Nam, Grenada, and the Gulf War, I am confounded. Have the very government institutions I swore to defend now become my nemesis?

The decision reeks of back-room politics. It is an insult to all Americans. It is especially insulting to Americans who supported this administration because they thought that it would bring an end to a dissolute Washington. Messer's Gramlich and Fisher should be ashamed. They have purposely and without reasonable cause fired a Weapon of Mass Destruction at a wounded and helpless American icon. These two men finished what Osama Bin Laden started!

Where was my government when 20 terrorists entered this country with impunity? Where was my government as radical elements plotted against America and publicly flaunted their intentions? Where was my government as American service men and women died at the hands of terror as they served on the lonely, far-away frontiers of freedom? Where was the CIA? Where was the FBI? Where was the NSA? Where was the INS? And where is my government today? Are they poised to deliver a death blow to those who would threaten and attack us? NO! In their impotence and incompetence they have only the strength and focus to deliver a stake to the heart of hundreds of thousands of American workers and their families.

The haunting and ghastly image of United Flight 175 striking the south tower of the World Trade Center will forever be etched in our collective memories. To deny this major American corporation relief in its time of suffering and desperation is reprehensible. I realize that United Airlines had problems and issues prior to 9-11. What major U.S. corporation is without problems and issues? We have always worked things out in the past, but 9-11 delivered a staggering knock-out punch such as no American corporation has ever had to endure.

We would not be in this position if it were not for 9-11. To suggest otherwise is absurd. For the first time in sixteen years this company is finally pulling together. Our new CEO truly intends to create the world's premier airline. The employees are coming together in a way never seen before. And what does my government do? They pull the rug out from under our valiant efforts at the eleventh hour. They dangle the carrot in front of 100,000 employees and we jump through all the hoops that your office demanded. " Broader, deeper and longer " was the ATSB mantra. We did just that and just as it was becoming obvious that the final labor group was coming around, you pulled the plug.

In case you have forgotten, the purpose of your organization is to stabilize not restructure the airline industry. Mr. Gramlich's patronizing and gratuitous remarks make me sick to my stomach. It is an insult to suggest that his concern is the American taxpayer and that the Board's purpose is to foster the long-term health of the industry. This government over-taxes and financially burdens its citizens at every opportunity. Billions upon billions are wasted everyday on the most absurd government programs. Trillions of dollars have been given to hostile, foreign nations. A loan guarantee of $1.8 billion dollars to a corporate victim of terror, is a drop in the bucket as the U.S. plans to spend over $100.0 billion in a matter of months fighting Iraq.

If the government's purpose is truly to foster long-term health in the industry, why was any money given to other ailing carriers? They should have been left to die off and the remaining carriers would grow stronger. I'll attempt to answer my own question. Perhaps United's denial was due to intense political pressure brought to bear by competitors friendlier to this administration. Citing that UAL does not have a sound business plan is patently absurd. What airline experience do you or your advisors have? What sound business plan did America West have? What sound business plan did USAir have? They got their loan guarantees without losing a single aircraft. All this "sound business plan" stuff is a smoke screen for a political agenda.

The employee suffering that's about to occur is incalculable. In my flying career I have endured much - a layoff, labor strife, a call to military active
duty in 1991, several major pay cuts, and now I hold reams of useless ESOP stock. The stress of working as a crewmember in a post 9-11 world is more than any worker should have to bear. You gentlemen just heaped on the backbreaking load.

I, like the vast majority of fellow pilots vote Republican. The Democratic Party has proven to be morally bankrupt and now the Republican Party has
proven to be morally corrupt. There is no in-between in this country. I truly believe the biggest threat to this nation is not from foreign entities. The greatest enemy is the corrupt men in our government.

Sincerely disgusted,

Frank Lyons