U.S. will have to decide soon whether airlines can fly abroad on eve of 2000I apologize if this has been posted earlier...checked first, but couldn't find one.

http://www.cnnfn.com/travelcenter/wires/9903/15/airlines_y2k_wg/ WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Tough decisions must be made soon on whether to bar U.S. airlines from flying to certain international destinations where Year-2000 computer problems may exist, Congress was told Monday.

Department of Transportation (DOT) Inspector General Ken Mead gave a largely favorable report on domestic aviation readiness to a joint hearing of two House committees. But he warned of trouble abroad, without naming specific countries.

"We believe it is time to develop a policy as to whether U.S. carriers or U.S. code-share flights will be allowed to fly to countries that are not known to be Y2K compliant," Mead said.

Code-sharing is a marketing tool used by airline alliances; it allows an airline to put its brand on flights flown by its partners.

Federal Aviation Administration chief Jane Garvey told the same hearing that information being gathered by the Montreal-based International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) would be critical in making decisions about international flights.

"I think we are going to have some very hard decisions post June 30, together with the State Department and the industry, once we understand what the situation is," Garvey said.

The Y2K problem occurs because until recently most computers and their software only allocated two digits for the year in a date. Unless computers are repaired or replaced, the year 2000 may be read as 1900, causing mistakes or systems to crash.

The FAA was late in starting work on fixing or replacing the elderly patchwork of hundreds of computers that make up its air-traffic control system. While it will not meet the Clinton administration's deadline to have all of its systems repaired, tested and operational by March 31, Garvey is promising to have the work done by June 30.

The General Accounting Office, the congressional auditor, believes Garvey is overly optimistic. Mead, the Transportation Department's inspector general, said he would rather see the job done right than have the June 30 deadline met artificially, a view he thought the FAA shared.

"I think everybody up here shares that view also," said Rep. Steve Horn, who chairs the House Government Reform technology subcommittee. The FAA hopes to have all 65 of its air-traffic control systems repaired, tested and back in operation by the end of June.

Contingency plans are also being drawn up by the FAA. In any case, Garvey repeated that safety would not be compromised and the number of flights would be cut if necessary to maintain safe operations.

The GAO was particularly critical of what it said was inadequate testing of a 1960s-vintage computer system that handles critical radar information during planes' approach to airports. Garvey said Lockheed Martin Corp., which maintained the system, would be sending a letter later Monday backing its opinion that the system was Year-2000 ready but expressing willingness for further tests.

-- Tim (pixmo@pixelquest.com), March 25, 1999

Answers

ANOTHER CHICKEN LITTLE PLANES FALLING OUT OF THE SKY ARTICLE, LOLOLOLOL...WHEN WILL THEY STOP POSTING THIS CRAP?

-- Schultz (uknowthing@all.com), March 25, 1999.

Schultz

We'll stop when they get the damned computers fixed, or until the lights go out, whatever comes first. <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), March 25, 1999.

FAA will be ready June 30th. Does not say what year.

-- Mike Lang (webflier@erols.com), March 25, 1999.

"The Y2K problem occurs because until recently most computers and their software only allocated two digits for the year in a date. Unless computers are repaired or replaced, the year 2000 may be read as 1900, causing mistakes or systems to crash."

Is this not getting OLD??? AArrgghh.

BTW Schultz it's not about planes falling from the sky, it's about planes not leaving the ground. You know what alarmist the DOT are. sarc.

-- Deborah (infowars@yahoo.com), March 25, 1999.

"The Y2K problem occurs because until recently most computers and their software only allocated two digits for the year in a date. Unless computers are repaired or replaced, the year 2000 may be read as 1900, causing mistakes or systems to crash."

Is this not getting OLD??? AArrgghh.

BTW Schultz it's not about planes falling from the sky, it's about planes not leaving the ground. You know what alarmists the DOT are. sarc.

-- Deborah (infowars@yahoo.com), March 25, 1999.

Schultz,

You need to speak with Reuters and CNN if you want to see less of that type of article. By the way, the article was about "whether to bar U.S. airlines from flying to certain international destinations where Year-2000 computer problems may exist...".

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), March 25, 1999.

Tell you what Schultz - lets put you, your family, Col Klink and the FAA administrators in the airplane and test it at each airport, on all shifts, from all approach angles.

I'll watch you fly - from the ground, with Col. Hogan.

-- Robert A Cook, PE (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), March 25, 1999.