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Non-Tech : The Y2K Newspaper -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: hunchback who wrote (163)	12/3/1999 8:33:00 AM
From: hunchback	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 198

Y2K Worries Prompt LDS Church to Issue Ban on Air Travel Thursday, December 2, 1999 BY PEGGY FLETCHER STACK THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE The Mormon Church is taking no chances in the air with the Y2K computer bug, grounding its missionaries and employees for a solid week as the millennium turns. No missionaries, employees or church general authorities will be airline passengers between midnight Dec. 30 and Jan. 5. Citing "lingering uncertainties as to the precise effect" of the computer bug, leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints instructed all employees and volunteers to avoid air travel during that week, spokesman Dale Bills said Wednesday. "This is a precautionary measure only and may be subject to change in some parts of the world as developments unfold," Bills said. The edict affects hundreds of missionaries who leave each week from the Missionary Training Center in Provo and general authorities and mission presidents who preside over members in far-flung regions of the world. The church has about 60,000 missionaries serving full-time missions of 18 months to two years. The announcement came despite assurances from the Federal Aviation Administration, which said last month that all major U.S. air carriers have no problems that will keep them from complying with safety standards on Jan. 1, when some computers might mistakenly think the year is 1900 and malfunction. In fact, 146 of the country's 173 airlines received the agency's highest possible preparedness rating, Mitch Barker, an FAA spokesman in Seattle, said Wednesday. U.S. officials have not made the same claim for international travel. Though the International Federation of Air Line Pilots has said travel will be safe in North America, the eastern Pacific and northern Atlantic, there is some concern among experts about Eastern Europe. Faculty and staff at LDS Church-owned Brigham Young University in Provo are also restricted from air travel during the same week, a decision announced months ago by school administrators, said spokeswoman Carrie Jenkins. If they must travel during that week, approval must come from auniversity vice president. However, students returning to the university for winter semester can exercise their own judgment, Jenkins said. The school currently is conducting a poll of students in campus dormitories to determine if the school must provide housing and food services to students who return early to avoid any Y2K travel conflict. Typically, the campus is nearly shut down during the holiday break. The LDS Church made its decision without advice from John Horton, chairman of the Year 2000 Users Group, a local business task force striving to raise awareness and provide a forum for Y2K issues. But Horton thinks the church's decision is a wise one. "It's not that unusual. There are other companies that have similar policies. I think it's prudent," Horton said. "We don't expect problems, but it is always possible. "After all, we've never been through this before, so we just don't know. The biggest risk is getting stranded one place and having your luggage go elsewhere." In contrast to LDS leaders, Bishop George Niederauer, leader of Utah's Roman Catholic diocese, will be jetting out of state on Jan. 1 for a retreat, said his secretary, Shirley Mares. "Most of our religious people and missionaries are already in place," said Deacon Silvio Mayo, chancellor of the diocese. "We are looking forward with great anticipation to the new millennium." sltrib.com