<B> WashingtonWire</B>
By Barbara Cook, Washington Correspondent
<B>DOT Delays Notification</B>
The U.S. Department of Transportation delayed the July 13 effective date of its newly adopted rule requiring the disclosure of information on codeshare flights due to airline protests that they need to focus on Y2K repairs first. The new rule requires airlines to identify the corporate name of the carrier providing the service, along with a second regulation that mandates that airlines must notify passengers if their flight includes a change of equipment at an intermediate stop. This information must be provided to the traveler at the time of ticket purchase. DOT agreed to postpone until March 15, 2000, the portion of the rules that requires computer reprogramming, but said that by Aug. 25 of this year, airlines must give verbal notice of codesharing.
<A NAME="2"><B>FAA Fines AA For Lax Security</B>
Federal Aviation Administration administrator Jane Garvey has upheld a judge's decision assessing a $250,500 civil penalty against American Airlines for 51 security violations involving display of identification badges by its employees and contractors at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. The violations were found in 23 cases investigated by FAA. American appealed the original February 1998 decision, saying its employees put their security badges in their pockets for convenience while they worked. However, FAA said that unless the badges were visible to security officers, an unauthorized person might slip through and place explosives in luggage bound for an airplane.
<A NAME="3"><B>FAA Proposes Y2K Airport Test Rules</B>
FAA has proposed to require 566 airports to check computerized airfield equipment and systems one hour or more before the first flight on Jan. 1, 2000, to ensure that no Y2K problems are present. Currently, airports are required to conduct daily checks, but not at a specific time. The proposed rule also would mandate the immediate repair or replacement of inoperative emergency equipment, such as fire fighting vehicles, on Jan. 1 rather than permitting the usual 48-hour grace period.
<A NAME="4"><B>Senate Bill Sets Carry-on Limits</B>
Legislation to limit airline passengers to two pieces of carry-on baggage was sponsored by Senate Democrats Ernest Hollings (S.C.), Daniel Inouye (Hawaii) and Daniel Akaka (Hawaii). The bill would require that FAA write rules specifying that the measurements of each carry-on piece could not exceed 9 x 14 x 22 inches.
<A NAME="5"><B>Pan Am Requests Reinstitution</B>
Pan Am has petitioned DOT for authority to resume its currently suspended scheduled service on Aug. 24. The carrier said it would launch service using two Boeing 727-200s and would offer one daily flight from Portsmouth, N.H., to both Chicago Gary Regional and Orlando Sanford International airports. The airline said it eventually would add scheduled service to interstate markets and to selected international markets.
<A NAME="6"><B>Virgin Asks For Chicago Slots, Again</B>
Virgin Atlantic again has asked DOT for slots at Chicago O'Hare airport. The carrier is seeking to operate daily nonstop service from London Heathrow effective Nov. 1. Virgin holds authority under the current bilateral to serve the route, but has not been able to secure slots. DOT recently denied Virgin's application for summer slots at O'Hare, saying the carrier hadn't filed its application in time.