ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, April 5, 1996 TAG: 9604050074
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NEW YORK
SOURCE: Associated Press
Travel disasters like the crash of a plane carrying Commerce Secretary Ron Brown and corporate leaders have spurred companies to place strict guidelines on travel by top executives.
News of the crash over Croatia is likely to prompt some U.S. companies to revisit their rules, said Domenic Pugliares, president of Aquarius Travel Management, a corporate travel agency based in Cambridge, Mass.
Existing rules at most large companies already strive to reduce risk of aircraft disasters disrupting company management, usually by curbing the number of top executives allowed to travel on the same flight.
The danger is obvious: The deaths of too many decision-makers can throw a corporation into chaos, shaking the faith of stockholders and customers.
At General Motors Corp., chairman John Smith and vice chairman Harry Pearce don't fly on the same plane. No more than half of the key managers of any one executive group at GM can fly together.
Hewlett-Packard Co. forbids travel on the same aircraft by more than one-half of its corporate board, one-half of its management council, three organizational vice presidents and 28 company employees.
Even airlines try to reduce risk, prohibiting cockpit crews from eating the same in-flight meals to minimize the impact of any food poisoning.
LENGTH: Short : 34 linesby CNB