The American management has begun a $25 million advertising campaign to help regain the confidence of consumers.

Just as important, they want American managements and their institutional memory to help guide them.

But it seemed unlikely that the pilots' union, which has long had strained relations with American management, would endorse the plan.

"American management has a methodology, a culture, a rigor that did not exist in Europe 10 years ago," he said.

By 1974 they owned 60 percent but retained American management.

"All our students came from countries all over the world, wanting to learn about American management," he said.

In the past few years, American management has done a lot to make business leaner and more efficient.

"If anything, they are going to want to keep an American management that has run the company successfully for 70 years."

The failure to create jobs may therefore rest mostly with American management.

But even with American management and marketing skill behind it, the L-159 is a tough sell.