The Transport Ministry today will begin posting information on foreign countries' Y2K preparations for New Year's flights on its Web site, amid high expectations of computer problems during the annual changeover.

The ministry's home page (http://www.motnet.go.jp/KOHO98/com2000_.htm) will cover information on the aviation control systems, airports and airlines of 40 countries and regions with service to Japan. The site will be updated twice a month.

The ministry collected the information from reports issued by the International Civil Aviation Organization and other official air traffic information publications.

The Y2K problem arises in older computers, chips and software that record years by only the last two digits. If not corrected, the "00" in 2000 may be mistaken as 1900, which could cause errors or systems failures Jan. 1.