CASA calls for Y2K fail-safe plans
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is calling on the Australian aviation industry to lift its level of contingency planning for the Y2K bug.
CASA's Assistant Director for Aviation Safety Promotion, Mike Smith, says thorough contingency planning by all sections of the aviation industry will ensure flying is safe at the turn of the Century.
Mr Smith says 43 per cent of aviation organisations have already drawn up Y2K fail-safe plans.
He told a national Y2K Aviation Conference in Sydney today that aviation was leading the way in Australia in contingency planning.
"But this doesn't mean we can be complacent - aviation needs a 100 per cent Y2K contingency planning scorecard," Mr Smith says.
"The aviation industry must be prepared for any eventualities as we move into the Year 2000.
"CASA is very confident this goal can be achieved because back-up systems and contingency planning are already the by-words of everyday aviation operations.
"To help the aviation industry reach Y2K compliance and contingency planning goals CASA is running a $400,000 awareness and education campaign.
"This campaign targets Australia's 1200 flying, maintenance and aerodrome licence holders.
"Key campaign initiatives include a toll-free Y2K hot-line, education material on critical issues, contingency planning guidelines and a regular aviation Y2K newsletter."
Mr Smith says the aviation industry also needs to raise its awareness of the importance of Y2K compliance and contingency planning by suppliers and business partners.
He says air operators, aerodromes and maintenance organisations must develop integrated Y2K strategies to be certain they will keep operating in January next year.
"CASA is confident the large aviation operators, including the major airlines, will be Y2K compliant and will have fail-safe plans to deal with any supplier or partner failures.
"But we know that about 20 per cent of the smaller aviation organisations have yet to fully address Y2K issues and they must start working on compliance and contingency right now."
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Ref: ME9912PR