UK — The Register
US air traffic control enters the 21st century, starts to abandon floppy disks
Policy1 min read
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is replacing four old air traffic control systems that still rely on floppy disks. The new system, called E-IDS, is set to be installed at 435 sites by the end of 2028.
The FAA is dropping floppy-disk-era systems
The FAA, the US agency that oversees aviation safety, still uses computers from the 1980s that need floppy disks. It is now starting to replace four of these systems with a new one called the Enterprise Information Display System, or E-IDS. The FAA says the new system will bring air traffic controllers' information together on one digital platform.
Key facts
- The four old systems run at more than 400 facilities across the country.
- E-IDS will be installed at 435 sites by the end of 2028.
- The first five sites are airports in Atlantic City, Nashville, and Rochester, New York, plus data hubs in Atlanta and Salt Lake City.
- Congress gave $12.5 billion for the FAA's overhaul, but the FAA said in December it needs another $20 billion.
Why the old systems were a problem
The FAA has had several air traffic control failures. In 2023, someone accidentally deleted a file from the NOTAM system, which briefly stopped flights from leaving US airports. A 2024 report from the Government Accountability Office found that 51 of the FAA's 138 air traffic control systems were hard to keep running because parts and money were short.
Why it matters
Air traffic control must work safely every day. Old computers that are hard to repair can put flights at risk. The new system aims to make it easier for controllers to get weather, airport, and flight alerts. But the FAA still needs much more money to finish the full upgrade, so the work is not yet done.
What to watch
- Whether Congress passes the Modern Skies Act, which asks for $30 billion for air traffic control upgrades.
- Whether E-IDS is installed on schedule at the first five sites.
- Whether the FAA meets its goal of finishing all 435 sites by the end of 2028.
Glossary
- FAA
- The Federal Aviation Administration, the US government agency that oversees aviation safety and air traffic control.
- E-IDS
- Enterprise Information Display System, a new digital system that puts air traffic information on one platform.
- NOTAM
- Notices to Airmen, official alerts that warn pilots about airport changes, hazards, or other flight information.
- Government Accountability Office
- A US government watchdog agency that checks how federal money is spent and how programs are run.
- Modern Skies Act
- A bill proposed in Congress that asks for $30 billion to modernize US air traffic control and airports.