Sir - The aviation industry depends on computer systems which handle dates, ranging from seat reservations to flight-data processing. Typically, 80% of systems which process dates can not handle the end of the century.
There are similar problems in payment systems, building security, test equipment and, possibly, navigation and avionics.
In our experience, major companies worldwide which have completed an inventory of year 2000 risks has found the problem to be greater than expected.
If the industry does not address this problem urgently, it will be too late to avoid widespread disruption at the end of the century. Any major company without a detailed, business-wide, year 2000 plan will find that it has to cancel projects and re-allocate resources when the scale of the risk is recognised.
For the aviation industry, this is a worldwide issue which needs co-ordinated international action.
Martyn Thomas
Deloitte & Touche Consulting Bath, UK
Source: Flight International
