The two American corporations building the military airfields in the Negev will share a substantial profit. But they are also having their share of trouble with the huge project that will replace the air bases in Sinai which Israel will have to give up in 1982.
The money picture is bright. The Negev Airbase Construction Co. (NAC) of New York, which is building the airfield at Ouvda and the Airbase Construction Co. (ABC) building the Ramon airfield will realize earnings of $55 million, about six percent on their investment, according to economic analysts here. They will share the profits on a 50-50 basis.
Moreover, it is now believed that the project will cost $90 million less than the estimated $1.04 billion budget approved by the U.S. Congress. The balance will be at Israel’s disposal to help pay for the re-deployment of its forces after they leave Sinai. That operation alone is expected to cost over $3.5 billion.
Meanwhile, NAC has encountered problems with imported laborers, mainly from Portugal, who have been flown bock to their countries and with its own field managers, several of whom have been dismissed, according to a report in Maariv. The top man here, Warren Patingale, will return to the U.S. in a few days, Moariv said, because he was found unfit for the job. Irregularities were reportedly found in hiring labor teams on the sites. Woddie Davis, head of the manpower department and Howard Marsh, head of planning and material inspection, were also fired, Maariv said.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
