STORY:
Y2K Expert to Fly into Next Millennium

De Jager Will Fly to London on a United 777 on New Year's Eve

Peter de Jager, one of the leading experts on the Year 2000 challenge, will cross into the next millennium aboard a United Airlines flight from Chicago to London. De Jager will travel on United flight 928, operated with a Boeing 777. De Jager's flight will be in the air when clocks on computers and technology systems on the airplane and in both the U.S. and the U.K. strike January 1, 2000.

The Year 2000 (Y2K) challenge, which affects virtually all businesses, is a result of early computer programming that used only the last two digits to designate a year. Concern has existed over whether systems will confuse the year 2000 with the year 1900.

During the last few months, officials from United's Corporate Y2K Project have met with de Jager and shared details of United's efforts to ensure the carrier's Y2K readiness. During the same period, de Jager studied the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Y2K plans as well as learned more about the efforts of the entire airline industry.

"I was concerned about the readiness of the many industries and was particularly critical of the airline industry," said de Jager. "After learning first-hand of the comprehensive approach being taken by United, other carriers and the FAA, I now feel that the Year 2000 challenge should have little, if any, impact on the operations of the air transportation system."

"We have great confidence in our Y2K readiness and are pleased to see that our confidence is shared by such a respected expert on the subject," said Rick Juster, Director of United's Corporate Y2K Project. "Peter has played a vital role in raising awareness of the challenges Y2K presents for the airline industry and in other industries."

De Jager has been active in bringing attention to the efforts and investments that would need to be undertaken by the business and information technology industries. In numerous articles, newspaper and television interviews and in testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives, the Canadian House of Commons and the World Economic Forum, he has urged companies and governments to assess their exposure to the Y2K challenge and begin taking actions to address related issues immediately. To facilitate better communication on the subject, de Jager created the Year 2000 Information Center website, a leading source of information on Y2K. De Jager co-authored the book "Countdown Y2K" and authored the recently released cartoon book finding the humor in Y2K entitled "The Bug Stops Here."

Source: United Airlines

DATE: 08/04/99

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