<B> Washington Wire</B>
By Barbara Cook, Washington Correspondent
<B>GAO Glum On Faa's Y2K</B>
A new General Accounting Office study found the Federal Aviation Administration isn't likely to be compliant on all of its major computer systems by Jan. 1, 2000. The FAA disputes that, saying it plans to have all systems ready by June 30, 1999. So far, an agency spokesperson said, all interim deadlines have been met. GAO director of civil agencies information systems Joel Willemssen recently told the House technology subcommittee that GAO has its doubts because of the difficult and time-consuming nature of FAA's task.
In other Y2K news, the Clinton Administration sent Congress a legislative proposal designed to promote greater communication about the Year 2000 computer problem by solving many of its probable liability issues. Clinton said the Year 2000 Information Disclosure Act would "guarantee that businesses which share information about their readiness with the public or with each other, and do it honestly and carefully, cannot be held liable for the exchange of that information if it turns out to be inaccurate."
<a name="story2"><B>Air Fatalities Down In 1997</B>
The National Transportation Safety Board said 1997 was a better year than 1996 in terms of deaths from aviation accidents. Releasing preliminary figures, NTSB said that in the United States and its territories, 976 persons died in aviation accidents last year. Of that number, commercial airlines accounted for eight deaths, air taxis for 40, commuters for 46, private aircraft for 646 and non-U.S. aircraft for 236. Most of the latter figure is attributable to the 228 persons who died aboard a Korean Airlines B747 that crashed in Guam in August, 1997. In 1996, a total of 1,093 persons died in aviation accidents in the United States or its territories.
<a name="story3"><B>GSA Awards Air Contracts </B>
The General Services Administration has awarded air travel contracts to 14 carriers to provide discount fares for official travel on 4,895 domestic and 587 international city-pair routes. The contracts are valid for the period Oct. 1, 1998, through Sept. 30, 1999. A GSA spokesperson said the contracts will generate annual savings of $2.5 billion for the government . The average discount on the fares is 68 percent off the normal unrestricted ticket price.
Federal business travelers this year requested that GSA give special weight to airline bids that involved nonstop service, GSA said, noting that nonstop service contracts were awarded in 1,571 markets, a total of 28 more markets than last year. Contracts went to (in order of the total number of city-pairs awarded): Delta, United, US Airways, American, Northwest, TWA, Continental, Southwest, Alaska, Midway, America West, Midway, Reno Air and American Trans Air.
<a name="story4"><B>DOT and U.K. Officials To Talk Bilaterals</B>
The Department of Transportation announced that aviation bilateral talks with the United Kingdom will resume the week of Oct. 5 in London--the first face-to-face meeting since February 1997 and a potential major development in the advancement of an open skies agenda and approval of the American Airlines-British Airways alliance.
In other DOT news, a spokesman said the department has decided to stick to its original plan to convene a hearing on the AA-BA alliance before assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs Charles Hunnicutt as part of its review of the agreement. In addition, DOT has tentatively granted Continental Airlines rights between Cleveland and London's Gatwick Airport, he said.