The Nation - News from Nov. 13, 1987

An Army helicopter manufacturer is designing special shielding to protect part of the craft’s control system from radio waves, but company and Pentagon officials rejected reports that such interference can cause a crash. Army officials instructed Sikorsky Aircraft in October, 1986, to develop an engineering proposal for shielding because they are planning new missions for the UH-60 Black Hawk, company officials said. The Stratford, Conn., company said the Army’s request had nothing to do with published reports that ordinary radio waves from microwave towers, radio antennae and radar could cause the troop-and cargo-carrying helicopters to crash.