FAA to eliminate floppy disks, outdated tech in air traffic control system
Share and Follow


() Federal aviation officials last week unveiled an ambitious, three-year plan aimed at modernizing the U.S.’s air traffic control system.

The plan calls for a new, state-of-the-art system to replace the outdated technology currently in use, which includes floppy disks and computers running the Windows 95 operating system. According to NPR, air traffic controllers also still use slips of paper containing flight numbers to help track the approximately 45,000 flights that the Federal Aviation Administration handles on a daily basis.

“The whole idea is to replace the system,” acting FAA administrator Chris Rocheleau said. “No more floppy disks or paper strips.”

A 2023 FAA assessment determined that more than a third of the country’s air traffic control systems were unsustainable. Some had already begun to fail.

System failures most recently hit Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, where staffing shortages and equipment issues have caused mass delays over the past few months. The delays forced FAA officials to curtail the number of flights in and out of the airport.

Airline officials pointed to those system failures in a recent open letter to Congress urging legislators to provide adequate funding to overhaul the “wildly outdated” system.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy last week described the proposed plan as the “most important infrastructure project” the U.S. has seen in decades.

“Everyone agrees, this is non-partisan,” Duffy said at a news conference. “Everyone knows we have to do it.”

It was unclear how much the authorities believe the project will cost, though Duffy has estimated the price tag at somewhere in the tens of billions of dollars, NPR reported.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Blake Lively and costar unload on Justin Baldoni in unsealed texts

Blake Lively and Co-Star’s Revealing Texts Criticize Justin Baldoni: Unsealed Messages Stir Hollywood Buzz

Blake Lively and her co-star Brandon Sklenar seem to criticize director and…
Jacksonville mother seeks answers one year after daughter drowned following crash

Jacksonville Mother Continues Search for Truth One Year After Daughter’s Tragic Drowning Post-Crash

The family of Jareesha Wilkerson continues to search for clarity about her…
Minnesota agitators stalk, pelt Border Patrol agents with food and spit at gas stations, DHS says

DHS Reports: Minnesota Protesters Target Border Patrol Agents with Food and Spit at Gas Stations

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported on Wednesday that anti-Immigration and…
Elon Musk's Greenland jokes fall flat at Davos, unveils plan to sell robots

Elon Musk’s Davos Appearance: Greenland Jokes Miss the Mark, But Robotic Sales Pitch Steals the Show

Elon Musk made an unanticipated entrance at the World Economic Conference on…
Golden Globe nominations should give a skewed Oscar picture, plus a new podcast category

Oscar Nominations: ‘Sinners’ Sets New Record with 16 Academy Award Nods

Breaking an unprecedented record in the 97-year history of the awards, the…
Jealous Texas woman allegedly launches 25-pound gym weight at romantic rival in fitness center

Texas Gym Drama: Jealous Woman Allegedly Throws 25-Pound Weight at Romantic Rival

A woman consumed by jealousy found herself in handcuffs after allegedly hurling…
Daughter of LA mayoral candidate challenging Karen Bass suddenly dies

Tragedy Strikes as LA Mayoral Candidate’s Daughter Passes Away Unexpectedly

The tragic news of Austin Beutner’s daughter’s passing has sent ripples through…
Anti-ICE protesters who led storming of Minneapolis church ARRESTED

Minneapolis Anti-ICE Protest Leaders Arrested Following Church Storming Incident

Two individuals linked to the disruption at a Minnesota church, reportedly led…