Aviation Week & Space Technology Names Best-managed Aerospace Companies and Airlines of the Year.

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 5, 2000

Annual "Best in the Business" issue spotlights

company strengths, not just profits

Six companies have emerged as the global aviation and aerospace industry's Best-Managed Companies, according to Aviation Week & Space Technology's upcoming annual "Best in the Business" issue.

The winning companies, by category, are:

- Bombardier Inc.-- Best-Managed Large Aerospace Company

- Howmet International, Inc.-- Best-Managed Medium-Size

Aerospace Company

- UMECO plc-- Best-Managed Small Aerospace Company (second

consecutive year)

- SAirGroup (Swissair) -- Best-Managed Major Airline

- Ryanair Holdings plc-- Best-Managed National Airline (second

consecutive year)

- SkyWest Airlines -- Best-Managed Regional Airline

AW&ST's annual Best-Managed Company ratings are based on the magazine's proprietary Competitiveness Index. Publicly traded companies' published financials provide the raw data for computing the rankings. But the power of the Index is its focus on key performance measures, including asset utilization, productivity and financial health. Each measure is composed of key ratios widely associated with well-run companies.

"The Best-Managed Companies rankings are a report card for determining how well management is running the business in light of current and future competitive requirements," said Aviation Week Executive Vice President/Publisher Kenneth E. Gazzola. "This year's winning companies set a standard for the entire global industry."

Aviation Week & Space Technology's Index of Competitiveness was developed by AW&ST Senior Business Editor Tony Velocci, in partnership with academia and industry, including Standard & Poor's Compustat, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, AirWatch Group and HOLT Value Associates.

To recognize the accomplishments of this year's Best-Managed Companies, AW&ST will host its Fourth Annual Best-Managed Companies Awards and Executive Conference at the Farnborough International Air Show near London on July 25 from 9:30 until 11:30 a.m. The centerpiece of the event, which is sponsored by Andersen Consulting and the Society of British Aerospace Companies is a panel discussion and Q&A session featuring senior executives of the Best-Managed Companies.

With nearly 50 products and services and an audience of some one million professionals and enthusiasts, the Aviation Week division of The McGraw-Hill Companies is the world's leading multimedia information provider to the aviation and aerospace market. The cornerstone of the Aviation Week portfolio is Aviation Week & Space Technology, the world's leading aviation and aerospace industry magazine, covering the commercial, military and space markets for more than 440,000 readers in 130 countries. www.AviationNow.com expands the company's extensive Web presence by delivering the most comprehensive real-time news, professional information and e-business Internet portal in the global aviation/aerospace industry.

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a global information services provider serving the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, Business Week and McGraw-Hill Education. The corporation has more than 400 offices in 32 countries. Sales in 1999 were $4.0 billion. Additional information is available at www.mcgraw-hill.com.