Link

Safe to fly abroad for New Year's? U.N. survey says it's too early to tell

June 29, 1999

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Countries outside the United States and the airlines and airports they oversee are starting to address the Year 2000 computer problem, but it won't be clear until later this summer where it will be safe and easy to travel overseas come the new year. The International Civil Aviation Organization, a U.N.-based group responsible for international aviation standards, asked its 185 member nations to report on their local readiness by Thursday.

The State Department and the Federal Aviation Administration plan to use that data to issue travel advisories to the public starting in mid- to late July. The two agencies are also hoping to get insight from the International Air Transport Association, a trade group that represents 260 international airlines. It has been conducting a private survey of airline readiness.

Because both sets of information are self-reported and won't be available for public inspection, it's unclear how reliable and useful it may be.

"It's hoped that between the two of them, we might get some kind of picture into readiness," said FAA spokesman Paul Takemoto. "The accuracy of that picture is yet to be determined."

Developing nations could have trouble

Aviation experts expect the United States and many countries in Europe and the developed areas of Asia to be ready, but the biggest problems may occur in developing nations, which were slow in committing attention and resources to the problem.

Denis Chagnon, a spokesman for the International Civil Aviation Organization, refused to say which nations have already responded to his group's survey. He explained last week: "The response was slow getting off the mark, but as people are nearing the deadline and needing information to complete their own readiness plans, I think the response will pick up."

The Year 2000, or Y2K, problem is a glitch that may cause computers to malfunction beginning January 1. Some older computers recognize years in a two-digit format, such as "00," so they may confuse 2000 with 1900.

The FAA has been criticized for its slow start in addressing the problem, but it said that all of its vital computer systems will be repaired and ready to handle the changeover by the close of business Wednesday. The agency conducted a live test of its repairs in Denver in April.

Following that test, most of the attention shifted to the readiness of domestic airports, as well as that of international airlines and airfields.

Airports around the world are seen as susceptible to Y2K problems because they are reliant on outside services, from electricity supplied by the local power company to phone service from the local provider. Regardless of the repairs an airport makes to its own computers and on-site backup systems, the services in its terminals or along its baggage belts may be vulnerable to problems off the airport property.

Airlines pass first 'critical test' -- booking for 2000

U.S. airlines and the government have also been eager to gauge overseas readiness. Many U.S. carriers have partnerships with international airlines, so they need to ensure a smooth transfer of their passengers over the post-holiday travel period. Also, the government wants to make sure that international airfields are safe for U.S.-registered aircraft.

Kevin Dobby, senior director at the International Air Transport Association, said his group has seen a change as it has visited more than 600 airports around the world this year on behalf of its member airlines.

"One of the things we see now as we start to do repeat visits is the level of awareness and activity is very high," he said.

International airlines are also picking up the pace of their work and expect to spend $2.3 billion overall readying their computer systems, Dobby said.

Airlines have already passed one critical test: Their computers have started processing reservations for flights next year.

"We're not out of the woods, but we're encouraged by what we're starting to see," Dobby said. "We spent a lot of time trying to raise awareness, and it appears that we have been successful at that."

Copyright 1999 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), June 30, 1999