<B> WashingtonWire</B>
<B>DOT Issues Precautions</B>
The U.S. Department of Transportation has posted information on the Web (www.fly2k.dot.gov) about the Y2K readiness of foreign countries' aviation systems. The initial release covers nearly 90 destinations with direct service to and from the United States. Additional information will be added before the end of October. The top three travel destinations from the United States--Canada, the United Kingdom and Japan--reported they will be fully Y2K compliant by year-end. Other places in the top 20 travel destinations likely to be ready are Jamaica and Ireland, while Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea already have completed their Y2K preparations. The top 20 destinations cover 82 percent of the international air travel market from the United States. Other destinations where work is reported to be complete are Bahrain, Denmark, Israel, Nicaragua and Singapore. DOT continues to seek information about the Y2K status of other destinations. The estimates of Y2K preparedness on the Web site are based primarily upon self-reported information and are not subject to independent DOT verification.
<A NAME="2"><B>FAA Replacing Radar Systems</B>
The Federal Aviation Administration has dedicated a new radar display system in its Houston enroute air traffic center at Bush Intercontinental Airport as part of a $1.1 billion project to replace DSR equipment at all of the nation's enroute centers. In addition to providing high-resolution color displays, DSR provides real-time weather information plus greater operational flexibility. FAA also dedicated Houston's new operational Host and Oceanic Computer System Replacement Program, which gathers and processes all flight data in domestic and oceanic air space, then distributes the information to other facilities. An agency official said all of the Houston center's major ATC equipment has been replaced this year.
<A NAME="3"><B>Delta: Revoke CO's Houston-Brazil Route</B>
Delta Air Lines has petitioned DOT to immediately revoke Continental Airlines' authority to operate Houston-Sao Paulo, Brazil, service and award the Brazil frequencies to Delta. Delta said Continental breached its 1998 service proposal to DOT by failing to implement daily, nonstop service between the two cities. Continental now is proposing four times weekly service. At the time Continental was awarded the Houston-Sao Paulo route, Delta received backup authority that could be implemented only if Continental did not live up to its service commitment.
<A NAME="4"><B>Gov't Approves Hush-Kit Resolution</B>
The House on Sept. 27 approved a Sense of the Congress resolution opposing the European Commission's efforts to ban hush-kitted aircraft. The resolution states that if the European Commission does not rescind its proposal to ban hush-kitted aircraft, the secretary of Transportation should lodge an objection. The resolution also directs the secretaries of Commerce, State and Transportation to work together to ensure that this regulation is withdrawn. The resolution states that the European Commission's regulation is not based on any evidence that aircraft with hush kits won't meet European noise standards but rather is intended to protect Europe's aviation interests at the expense of the United States by imposing "arbitrary, substantial and unfounded cost burdens." According to the resolution, the majority of aircraft affected by the rule are U.S. operated. "This is simply economic discrimination masquerading as noise regulation," said Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.).