U.s., Israel Agree on Research Projects but El Al Landing Rights Refused

Israel and American Cabinet-level officials agreed yesterday to cooperate on numerous transportation research projects but Israel’s renewed requests for more extensive landing rights for E1 A1 aircraft in the United States were rejected.

Israeli Minister of Transportation and Communications, Shimon Peres and Secretary of Transportation John A. Volpe initialed a memorandum of understanding by which technicians of the two countries would cooperate on research and exchange of information on projects including ground traffic engineering, computerized air control systems and technological development, designing of buses, transit use by low income groups, air traffic control systems and harbor and seashore pollution.

At the working lunch in his office, Volpe accepted Peres’ invitation to visit Israel at a date to be set later. Peres returned to Israel yesterday afternoon. He had been in the US for a week speaking at fund-raising rallies.

Before departing, Peres also met with Sicor Browne, chairman of the Civilian Aeronautics Board, on a quest begun two years ago for E1 A1 planes to land in Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston, and also to extend E1 A1 flights from Bucharest to the John F. Kennedy Airport in New York which Israel first requested six months ago.

Browne, however, was reported to have responded negatively in view of the adverse economic position of American Airlines and their fear that granting Israeli requests would open the door for similar requests from other foreign airlines at a time of intense competition. Lebanon was understood to have had its request turned down last month.

At present, E1 A1 lands only at Kennedy. In seeking additional landing areas, Peres was said to have pointed out that TWA in the past year increased the number of its flights to Israel from eight percent of all trans-Atlantic flights last year to 28 percent at present.