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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

                    CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

                       PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Hexcel Corporation (the "Company") on
Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2002 as filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, David E. Berges,
Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

    (1)   The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or
          15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
    (2)   The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
          material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
          of the Company.


       November 14, 2002                          /s/ David E. Berges
            (Date)                     -----------------------------------------
                                                    David E. Berges
                                          Chairman of the Board of Directors,
                                         President and Chief Executive Officer