I have a friend who has asked me to post some air travel questions on this forum.

I can't say she's a GI, but she is aware that for the first time in decades I'm grounding myself this Christmas season. She always visits her son, who has lived in Madrid for many years. She has asked for any inside dope anyone might have on the airports in Madrid, Paris, and also Dulles. Also Air France and Spanair (Spanair, and not Iberia, is the way to get from the Washington DC area to Madrid)

My friend does not respond well to orders. I'd rather tell Will Continue to shut up and do a 180 than my friend.

-- Peter Errington (petere@ricochet.net), October 02, 1999

Answers

You should find the information that
you are looking for here.
Civil Aviation Y2K Review

-- spider (spider0@usa.net), October 02, 1999.

I thougth I was in love with Will Continue, but your friend sounds interesting. Is she spoken for?

-- weak little man (not@macho.enough), October 02, 1999.

From The Department of Transportation

 International Civil Aviation Y2K Information Review

This is what they say about Madrid.

 International Civil Aviation Y2K Information Review  (Spain)

Madrid - Barajas

Report to ICAO dated 17 September 1999 indicates access control and security, aeronautical information systems, fuel services, ground support/ramp services, apron movement control facilities, and weather systems/ services have not been implemented. Critical suppliers have not been contacted to ascertain their Y2K compliance status. Contingency plans and end to end testing have not been addressed. No estimated completion date is provided.

-- Brian (imager@home.com), October 02, 1999.

On behalf of the flight crew, we would like to welcome you to this evenings flight to Madrid, this is Captain Hoff and First Officer Flint. If you need anything please let of flight attendant, Anita know.

-- Go Greyhound (LeaveTheFlying@til.2001), October 02, 1999.

As far as getting dope inside the Madrid airport, forget it, there is way too much heat. Best to come to Spain drug-free and stay that way.

Your friend sounds real spunky! Is she into mudwrestling???

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.cum), October 02, 1999.

Thanks for the feedback. Brian, your answer was really an eye-opener.

I certainly hope that nothing awful happens to Madrid. It's a wonderful city (altho you really do have to worry about pickpockets and purse-snatchers). But I'm afraid that like so many nice Europeans, the Spaniards may have their heads and their thumbs in entirely the wrong place, when it comes to Y2K.

-- Peter Errington (petere@ricochet.net), October 02, 1999.

Peter

If you want a real eye opener, take a look at the rest of the DOT site.

Even in Canada there are some bad signs, Montreal seems real behind as well as some other major cities. And we are "low risk"

-- Brian (imager@home.com), October 02, 1999.

Got JP-4?

dave

-- dave (wootendave@hotmail.comm), October 02, 1999.

Brian, I think your information is a little out of date. I went to the link and the latest information available is from 29 September.

Information for Spain

Reports indicate steps are underway in the civil aviation Y2K programs of this country. However, there is insufficient information available to estimate the overall status of Y2K preparations at this time. It is difficult to estimate the likelihood, length or severity of any disruptions in the civil aviation system. Prudence, therefore, dictates that travelers electing to fly in the civil aviation system of this country during the period immediately before and after the New Year should plan their itinerary carefully, avail themselves of all information available prior to departure, take practical precautions for their own comfort and personal needs, and be prepared to cope with disruptions and delays in services. This statement is based primarily upon self-reported information not subject to independent DOT verification.

Air Traffic Services

Report to ICAO dated 29 September 1999 indicates all program management actions are complete except some suppliers/vendors of critical services have not yet responded concerning the Y2K readiness of all of their products/services. Technical systems have all been renovated, but communication systems, radar processing/surveillance systems, flight data management systems, support information systems and aeronautical information systems have not yet been implemented. Navigation and approach aids, control and monitoring systems, and building management systems have all been implemented. All actions are scheduled for completion by end of November 1999.

Airports

Madrid - Barajas Report to ICAO dated 29 September 1999 indicates most program management actions are complete. Some suppliers/vendors of critical services have not yet responded concerning the Y2K readiness of their products/services, and contingency planning is ongoing. All technical systems have been tested, but only communication and navigational approach aids are fully implemented at this time. No estimated completion dates are provided for technical systems not implemented.

http://www.y2ktransport.dot.gov/fly2k/International.asp? DestID=94&Letter=S#Country

Air Carriers

Air Europa - No substantive reports concerning status are available to the Department of Transportation.

Iberia - Report to ICAO dated 12 August 1999 indicates Y2K preparations are complete. However, operator is awaiting publication of ATS/Airport contingency plans.

Spanair - Report to ICAO dated 29 September 1999 indicates program management actions are complete. Communications, navigation and flight management systems have been implemented. Aeronautical information systems transponder systems engine management systems, weather information systems, and other mission critical systems have been inventoried and assessed. Report indicates no abnormal behavior expected; waiting confirmation of program completion

-- Remain vigiliant (prudency@spain.int), October 04, 1999.

If I were her, I'd go ahead and book it. You didn't mention the exact travel period, but Spanair has a flight 138 on a Boeing 767 from Dulles to Madrid on Friday, December 24th at 6:30 pm, arriving on Saturday, December 25th at 7:40am. Flight 137 could be used for the return flight, leaving on January 02 at 1:20 pm, arriving at Dulles at 4:00pm. Round trip fare is $657.75.

If problems are foreseen between now and then, the flights will be cancelled. If she waits too long, the flights will be full.

Air France, Lufthansa, Delta, and Swissair also have flights during the same period, although NONE are direct and ALL have higher fares.

-- Anita (notgiving@anymore.com), October 04, 1999.