From the BBC:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_382000/382893.stm

Thursday, July 1, 1999 Published at 18:01 GMT 19:01 UK

UK pilots are refusing to fly over the New Year to any countries where air traffic control systems could be hit by the Millennium Bug.

"People will not have to worry about travelling from Britain to a country over the millennium because we ourselves will not fly to areas we may regard as unsafe," said Captain David Marshall, chairman of the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa).

The union, which has 7,000 members, is investigating aircraft, airports and control systems worldwide to ensure they are year 2000 compliant.

It has already given a clean bill of health to all Airbus and Boeing aircraft which make up the vast majority of passenger planes.

Pilots have recently expressed concern about the general level of air traffic control standards in parts of Africa and eastern Europe.

Balpa will publish its survey at the end of the month but does not want to name specific countries until it has evidence of potential problems.

"We are monitoring the situation very carefully and we will keep our members and the travelling public informed. We will ensure their safety," said Balpa general secretary Chris Darke.

And off-topic but related:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_383000/383547.stm

Thursday, July 1, 1999 Published at 22:33 GMT 23:33 UK

BA false alarm strikes again

The jet's 402 passengers were 'scared out of their wits'

British Airways has come under fire after 402 passengers were told that their jumbo jet was about to crash into the sea.

It was the third time in just four months that an emergency message was played in error.

The passengers, on a flight from London Heathrow to Los Angeles, were left stunned by the pre-recorded message, which was played twice.

The captain intercepted the message - which went out when the Boeing 747 400 was three hours from landing and flying at 35,000ft - and told travellers it was a false alarm.

BA - which describes itself as the world's favourite airline - gave all the passengers on flight BA279 a letter of apology upon arrival.

A BA spokeswoman said: "The captain quickly intercepted the announcement and obviously it should not have happened.

"We will be carrying out an emergency review to discover the cause.

"We are extremely concerned and are treating the matter seriously.

"We are writing to further reiterate our apologies to passengers. We will consider compensation but that is a matter between us and the passengers."

Passenger Susanne Jackson told Channel 4 news: "The first time there was calm. It was like when a fire alarm goes off you sort of ignore it at first but when it came over a second time I started to worry a little bit.''

This is just the latest in a growing line of false emergency alarms at BA.

The 400 passengers on board a 25 April flight from San Francisco to Heathrow were offered a box of chocolates as compensation after an emergency announcement warned them they were about to crash.

Some of the passengers on board the jumbo jet were so distressed the crew had to call for a doctor.

Last month passengers on board a Heathrow to Philadelphia flight were told their Boeing 777, which was cruising at 37,000ft over Ireland, was about to crash.

Tom Brake, Liberal Democrat aviation spokesman, said: "Passengers are entitled to more than a box of chocolates or a letter of apology to compensate them for being scared out of their wits.

"British Airways should pay substantial cash compensation to passengers for the distress they have suffered.

"British Airways must also review its security procedures to ensure these automated warning messages cannot be triggered accidentally or as a hoax."

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), July 01, 1999

Answers

You'd think that they would at least offer fresh knickers.

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), July 02, 1999.