Uh oh....Delay City......

Malko

Malko

ughhh
Staff member
FAA says widespread delays, cancellations in US due to flight plan computer problem.

By HARRY R. WEBER , Associated Press
Last update: November 19, 2009 - 8:13 AM



<!-- PUT THIS TAG IN DESIRED LOCATION OF SLOT Commenting_Sponsorship_210x81 --> <script type="text/javascript"> GA_googleFillSlot("Commenting_Sponsorship_210x81"); </script> <!-- END OF TAG FOR SLOT Commenting_Sponsorship_210x81 --><script language="javascript1.2">var trkcid=70457822;var partnerID=252416; var _hb=1;</script><script language="javascript1.2" src="http://www.startribune.com/g/g/button/button_1.js"></script><script language="JavaScript"> window.onerror=function(){clickURL=document.location.href;return true;} if(!self.clickURL) c</script>ATLANTA - A problem with the FAA system that collects airlines' flight plans caused widespread flight cancellations and delays nationwide Thursday.

FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said she doesn't know how many flights are being affected or when the problem will be resolved.

An AirTran Airways spokesman said there's no danger to flights in the air, and flights are still taking off and landing.

However, spokesman Christopher White said flight plans are having to be loaded manually because of a malfunction with the automated system.
"Everything is safe in the air," White said.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport, has been particularly affected.

AirTran had canceled 22 flights and dozens more flights were delayed as of 8 a.m. EST. Delta Air Lines also has been affected.

The FAA said in a statement that it is having a problem processing flight plan information.

"We are investigating the cause of the problem," the agency said. "We are processing flight plans manually and expect some delays. We have radar coverage and communications with planes."

Passengers are being asked to check the status of their flights online before going to airports.

Flight plans are collected by the FAA for traffic nationwide at two centers — one in the Salt Lake City area and the other in the Atlanta area, Bergen said. She did not know which center was affected Thursday.

In August 2008, a software malfunction delayed hundreds of flights around the country.

In that episode, the Northeast was hardest hit by the delays prompted by a glitch at the Hampton, Ga., facility that processes flight plans for the eastern half of the U.S.

The FAA said at that time the source of the computer software malfunction was a "packet switch" that "failed due to a database mismatch."
Click to expand...
 
Isn't it amazing this story comes up about twice a year? FAA and the government won't give ATC the tools it needs. This has happened so many times I don't even have to read the story, I already know what it says.
 
Luckly my flight plan out of KHPN this morning made it into the system before the crash, however while picking up my clearance, there were at least 10 aircraft trying to direct file.
 
I should probably go file early then... I hate having to do it over the frequency when it gets lost.
 
I received a text from a FA friend at Colgan. She thought it was a EWR issue until I texted her back that it was nationwide. Not sure if that made her feel better or not!
 
Should all be OK by now. From Fltplan.com:

faa.JPG
 
Hmm, wonder how Bill's day today will go!

edit: Well, he's enroute, and off the gate 4 minutes early!
 
Read about this on MSN this morning. As if the public wasn't skeptical enough already about the airline industry and its reliability. :whatever:
 
This morning the CNN article had about eight paragraphs and zero facts or specifics.
...and it was titled "Pilot system failure..."
roll the eyes.
 
Re: FAA Computer Glitch

I heard that they have the problem fixed. I'm sure glad I didn't have to fly this morning! I heard it was a real mess with controllers having to manually input every flight plan.
 
Took 1 hour and 8 minutes from pushback to get a clearance this morning out of BOS. Then from EWR to BOS at around 8am we sat in the ballpark for an hour and a half just waiting for a taxi time.
 
We attempted to pick up our clearance in ATL this morning at 8:30. On the inital call we were number 30 in line, within 45 minutes it turned into close to probably 100 airplanes waiting to get clearances. It was very interesting to listen to one airplane after another check on. The list just kept piling up and at one point the controller basically told everyone to be quiet and that they werent going to take any more clearances until they could get some of these aircraft out. I think we ended up waiting close to an hour and fifteen minutes to get our clearance. Good times!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top