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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 Annual Report of Hexcel Corporation (the "Company") on
Form 10-K/A (Amendment No. 1) for the year ended December 31, 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.


      March 31, 2003                           /s/ David E. Berges
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          (Date)                                  David E. Berges
                                          Chairman of the Board of Directors,
                                         President and Chief Executive Officer