http://www.mediacentral.com/channels//allnews/12_07_1999.reutr-story-L07204738.html

[Fair use/educational purposes:]

MOSCOW, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Russian national carrier Aeroflot and Moscow's main airport said on Tuesday they were prepared for the Y2K computer bug and set out to prove it by putting groups of journalists on simulated millennial night flights.

Aeroflot took reporters to its training centre where they boarded aircraft simulators, the clocks of which had been set to 11.54 p.m. on Dec 31, minutes before experts fear computers across the globe could malfunction after misreading the last two digits of 2000 as 1900.

The simulators -- which resemble mechanical spiders on the outside, but look and feel like a real cockpit inside -- reared up and circled over illusory, densely populated cities while, presumably, down below crowds popped champagne corks and cheered in the New Year.

All but one of the flights landed safely. A handful of reporters were, virtually, killed over Miami when their Airbus A320 simulator's lights went out at 30 seconds past midnight and the simulator dropped down with a thump.

Aeroflot officials quickly explained this was due to a power cut affecting the whole building and not the millennium bug.

The company's general director, Valery Okulov, told a news conference at Moscow's Sheremetevo airport that Aeroflot had spent a year working to solve any potential problems.

"We'll be flying over the December 31-January 1 period. We are very pleased to say we are ready for this problem," he said. The company said it had spent $12 million on tackling the bug.

Okulov said he and his colleagues would not go as far as their counterparts at Air China, who have said they will spend the New Year airborne.

"There's no point being in the air, a leader is supposed to lead -- which requires being on the spot. So I'll be here at Sheremetevo," he said.

MOSCOW'S MAIN AIRPORT SAYS ALSO READY FOR NEW YEAR

Sheremetevo's general director, Sergei Sutulov, said the airport had renewed its computers controlling everything from ticketing to screens detailing flights and had ensured all utilities would work on January 1.

"Sheremetevo is 100 percent ready. Electricity, gas, water, all these things have been solved," he said. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines had checked the airport's Y2K readiness, he added.

The airport's Information Technology chief, Igor Khokhlov, told reporters on a tour of Sheremetevo's Terminal-2 control room that all older computers had been exchanged for new ones.

"All the airport's systems are compliant (with Y2K), we have made some changes to our systems, developed different applications, and so for the moment Sheremetevo is ready to meet all the requirements of the air carriers," Khokhlov said.

He said the airport was always ready for emergencies, but that there would be experts on hand over the millennium period "just in case the impossible happens."

) 1999 Reuters Limited

-- Steve (hartsman@ticon.net), December 09, 1999

Answers

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Geee-zus,

I fully expect more than 1 Aeroflop flight to go down, but the question remains:

If even one AMERICAN (the nation, not necessarily the airline) flight goes down due to Y2K will our beloved president take responsibility? Will crafty Kosky? What about that goof from the FAA, Jane-whats-her-name? We shall see, but don't hold your breath....

-- (cavscout@fix.net), December 09, 1999.

"All but one of the flights landed safely. A handful of reporters were, virtually, killed over Miami when their Airbus A320 simulator's lights went out at 30 seconds past midnight and the simulator dropped down with a thump.

Aeroflot officials quickly explained this was due to a power cut affecting the whole building and not the millennium bug."

that's the quote I was trying to put up. Unbelievable.

-- (cavscout@fix.net), December 09, 1999.

Aeroflop???? I like that. Thanks!

-- Irving (irvingf@myremarq.com), December 09, 1999.

The "virtual body count" has started. And reporters, no less. Wonder what their stories were??

"Ladies and gentlemen of the press, this is your virtual captain speaking. We have just crashed in the Atlantic a few miles short of the runway. We hope you have enjoyed your virtual millennium flight, and remember: the crash was purely coincidental. Had this been an actual emergency, your virtual stewardesses would have instructed you accordingly. Please file a happy-face story, and have a nice day. Fly Aeroflot again!!"

-- counting down (the@days.now), December 09, 1999.

This line from Okulov is pure comic genius, but it's all in the delivery...

(set-up)

Okulov said he and his colleagues would not go as far as their counterparts at Air China, who have said they will spend the New Year airborne.

(line)

"There's no point being in the air, a leader is supposed to lead -- which requires being on the spot. So I'll be here at Sheremetevo," he said.

"oooh those Russians" - Boney M.

-- number six (!@!.com), December 09, 1999.