FAS says that Russian air traffic control ready for 2000

Published: 6/8/1999

According to the Federal Aviation Service (FAS), the computer systems of 126 of Russia"s 128 civilian air traffic centres of the Air Traffic Organisation (ATO) are prepared for operation in 2000. However, a report in Prime-TASS suggests that the issue of Year 2000 compliance has not yet been completely resolved. Of the 10,186 systems and facilities of the ATO, 446 still require upgrading. This clearly poses a problem for their local areas at the very least. Funding for the ATO"s efforts to resolve Year 2000 compliance problems has to come from the central budget, which is already short of money. Twelve of the ATO"s federal centres have so far carried out exercises to test their computer systems in the 21st century. The ATO board has also approved an extensive plan of measures in order to keep ATO systems functioning at the stroke of 2000. Concise considers that the level of preparedness of the air traffic control system in Russia is encouraging. This contrasts with the situation that exists within the military control systems where Concise understands that the preparation for Year 2000 compliance is well behind schedule and causing considerable concern to observers, including the US military team sent to Russia to help them with its implementation.

Article ID: 560