Newark airport outage last week lasted 60-90 seconds, ATC screens went dark: Sources
The recent outage at Newark Liberty International Airport on Monday caused chaos for air traffic controllers and passengers alike. According to sources familiar with the incident, the air traffic control computer screens went dark for approximately 60 to 90 seconds, rendering controllers unable to communicate with aircraft during that time.
In recordings obtained by ABC News, an air traffic controller can be heard informing pilots that the radar screens had gone black and there was no frequency available. This prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to halt all departures to Newark airport due to “telecommunications and equipment issues at Philadelphia TRACON,” the air traffic control facility responsible for directing aircraft in and out of Newark.
Following the outage, several controllers took medical leave, citing the event as traumatic. Under the Federal Employees Compensation Act, these controllers are entitled to at least 45 days off and must be evaluated by a doctor before returning to work.
The Philadelphia TRACON facility, which oversees the airspace around Newark airport, was already facing a shortage of air traffic controllers. This shortage has led to significant flight delays over the past eight days, with airlines being forced to delay flights for hours.
United Airlines, one of the major carriers operating at Newark, took proactive measures to reduce congestion and minimize the impact on passengers. The airline canceled 35 round-trip flights per day and flights were experiencing an average delay of four hours. United CEO Scott Kirby expressed disappointment over the situation, noting that the airport cannot handle the scheduled number of flights without adequate staffing.
In response to the ongoing issues, the FAA emphasized the need to modernize the air traffic control system and improve reliability in the New York area. The agency is working to establish a more resilient and redundant configuration with local exchange carriers to prevent future disruptions.
Overall, the Newark airport outage serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by air traffic controllers and the need for continued investment in modernizing the aviation infrastructure to ensure passenger safety and efficiency.
Improving Resiliency Through Automation System Updates
In today’s fast-paced world, businesses are constantly looking for ways to improve efficiency and resiliency. One of the key ways to achieve this is through automation systems that can help streamline processes and reduce the risk of errors. At our company, we understand the importance of staying ahead of the curve and are committed to updating our automation system to ensure that we are operating at peak performance.
By updating our automation system, we are not only improving our resiliency but also increasing our overall efficiency. This means that we can better handle unexpected challenges and disruptions, allowing us to continue providing top-notch service to our customers.
Key Points:
- Automation systems are crucial for improving efficiency and reducing errors.
- Updating our automation system will help improve our resiliency and ability to handle unexpected challenges.
- By staying ahead of the curve, we can continue to provide top-notch service to our customers.
At our company, we take pride in our commitment to excellence and are always looking for ways to improve. By updating our automation system, we are taking a proactive approach to ensuring that we are operating at peak performance and can continue to meet the needs of our customers.
