The Michigan Daily-Wednesday, June 6, 1979-Page 7
DC-10 groundings negated pending hearing

WASHINGTON (AP) - A U.S.
District Court judge told the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) to ,
ground all U.S.-registered DC-10s
yesterday, but delayed the effect of his
order and the FAA halted the drafting
of a directive that would have kept the
planes out of the air.
"We are not grounding the planes
tonight," said FAA spokesman Dennis
Feldman.
SPOKESPERSONS for many of the
U.S. airlines using DC-10 jetliners said
yesterday their aircraft would continue
flying until the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration passes on a federal judge's
order grounding the planes.
McDonnell-Douglas Corp., builder of
the DC-10, said the grounding order by
U.S. District Judge Aubrey E. Robinson
Jr. in Washington was "completely un-
warranted."
And the Airline Passengers
Association (APA), the organization
that sought the grounding, said, "We
are not gleeful over the thing at all."
ROBINSON TOLD the FAA to ground
all 138 U.S.-registered DC-10 jetliners in
the wake of last month's crash in
Chicago that killed 275 people.
Local ex
By BETH PERSKY
While the government and some in-
dustries are launching major research
campaigns to investigate the feasibility
of alternate automotive fuels, some
local experts say they are rather
pessimistic about the practicality of
implementing the substitutes.
Associate Mechanical Engineering
Prof. Donald Patterson, of the Univer-
sity's Automotive Research Laboratory
on North Campus, said most alternate
fuels are very expensive.
"WE HAVE PLENTY of energy,"
said Patterson. "Everything is a mat-
ter of economics."
Patterson said methanol, which is
made from natural gas or coal and is
currently the most economical of the
alternative fuels, is approximately four
times more expensive than gasoline
when refining costs and energy value
are considered.
Another substitute fuel is ethanol,
which can be made from grain. This
fuel currently is being used in a ten per
cent blend with gasoline called gasahol,
according to Richard Lawrence of the
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) on Plymouth Rd.
LAWRENCE SAID gasahol, which
can also be made from methanol and is
being sold by independent distributors
and gas stations, is popular because it

AP Photo
U.S. registered DC-10s were grounded by a U.S. District Court judge yesterday. But most airlines have reported that their
planes will continue flying until the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) directs them to end flights.
perts rate alternative auto fuels

provides subsidies to farmers.
"Congress voted to move an excise
tax on fuels containing alcohol from
grain," said Lawrence.
Although Patterson said "methanol,
ethanol, and the higher alcohols are

ficient than gasoline are "quite
misleading."
The reason, he said, is because "the
energy in ethanol is two-thirds that in
gasoline - a mixture of 10 per cent
ethanol with gasoline gives three to four

'Methanol, ethanol, and the higher alcohols are
potentialfuels for gasoline as well as diesel engines.'
-Prof. Donald Patterson, of the-
University Automotive Research Laboratory

now(gasoline)," he said.
BRIGGS SAID coal oil can be used in
existing facilities "with some
modifications."
However, Briggs said oil from coal is
not practical - it would cost between
$1.50 and $1.75 per gallon - because
coal prices are increasing at a faster
rate than crude oil.
He added that any alternative energy
sources is expensive because "you have
to design, construct, and pay for the
equipment to convert" new energy
sources to present equipment.
HOWEVER, Briggssaid, "There
may be some breakthroughs" which
could make the transition from oil to
coal more practical.
Patterson said the current shortage
of gasoline is due to "a lack of
refineries - there's plenty of oil."
"It's political - you need permits,
and it takes years and years to build
refineries," he said.
But Patterson admitted that oil sup-
plies eventually will be depleted, and it
is important to consider energy alter-
natives.
"There's nothing on the horizon that's
just terribly attractive," said Patter-
son. "(But) if there's no gas available
at all, you'd probably be quite happy to
use one of these (alcohol fuels)."

potential fuels for gasoline, as well as
diesel, engines," he also warned that
engines not adapted to alcohol fuels
could corrode and cut engine life in
half.
"IF YOU BUILD a car and use the
right materials, there's no problem,"
said Patterson. He also added that if
consumers began to use such fuels in
significant quantities, auto companies
would probably build a car more adap-
table to their alcohol base.
However, Lawrence warned that the
claims that gasahol is more energy ef-

per cent less energy" than gasoline.
PATTERSON, WHO claimed "the
government has encouraged research
on alcohols more than they have some
of the other fuels," said he believes the
government should put more effort into
the production of petroleum products
from coal and shale.
Associate Chemical Engineering
Prof. Dale Briggs currently is conduc-
ting research on the liquification of
coal.
"Liquification is more like the
traditional crude oil - it's more com-
parable to what we're using

Council approves rezoning
for south side office space

(Continued from Page 5)
* Three one-story buildings, of 4,900
square feet each, which will make up
the Hidden Valley Office con-
dominiums; and,
* Seven one-story buildings and a
three-story building, owned by the State
Street Land Company, and totalling
121,000 square feet.
COUNCIL TABLED action Monday
night on another rezoning proposal in
the south area which proposes 150

townhouses on18 acres.
Another rezoning resolution that did
win approval Monday night allows the
Vitality Seed Company Pension Fund to
build a six-unit, two-story apartment
building on a one-acre lot opDexter Rd.
Council approved the rezoning with
the - stipulation that the developer
correct plans for the site to show exac-
tly how much woodland would be
disturbed.


The Ann Arbor Film Cooperative presents at Aud A
$1.50 WEDNESDAY, JUNE b
PAYDAY
(Dary) Duke, 1972) 7 only-Aud A
If you liked NASHVILLE, you'll like this tighter, more intense version of one
day in the life of a Country-Western singer. Rip Torn plays the port of the
charming rascal of a singer who cares about nothing but his career and libido.
"Holds you in fascination"-Judith Crist. Produced by Ralph J. Gleason. With
MICHAEL C. GWYNNE.
THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTFOOT
(Michael Cimino, 1974) 9 only-Aud A
Before stunning the world with THE DEER HUNTER, Michael Cimino wrote and
directed this stylish story of a Vietnam Vet with a hankering to pull one heist
and retire forever. "Most enjoying, a funny, tough-fibered crime comedy with
an unobtrusive edge of drama. It is consistently entertaining and interesting
. an enjoyable winner."-N.Y. TIMES-CLINT EASTWOOD, JEFF BRIDGES,
GEORGE KENNEDY, GARY BUSEY.
Tomorrow: KING OF HEARTS atAud A