The American air traffic control relies on floppy disks and Windows 95 in 2025. For a long time, there was no money for modernization. But after a total failure in New Jersey, they now want to invest. Estimated costs: at least 12.5 billion US dollars, if not even significantly more.
The current FAA administrator Chris Rocheleau stated before the House Budget Committee that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to replace its outdated air traffic control systems, which are still based on floppy disks and Windows 95 computers. Rocheleau said during the committee hearing (via ArsTechnica):
The whole idea is to replace the system. No more floppy disks or paper strips.
Outdated technology in air traffic control
What technology is in use? Most air traffic control buildings and facilities in the USA are currently still using outdated technology. Some air traffic controllers are using paper strips to track the movements of planes and transfer data between systems using floppy disks, while their computers run Microsoft Windows 95, which was released in 1995.
Floppy disks and Windows 95 are just the tip of the iceberg: telecommunication lines are hopelessly outdated, and radar installations date back to the 70s and 80s. Weather stations, radio equipment. All of this is to be renewed and brought up to date in the next 4 years.
After total failure at the airport in New Jersey, everything should now move quickly
Why has the system not been upgraded yet? The most common point mentioned is budget constraints.
However, the total failure of communication at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey has shown the responsible parties that it can no longer continue this way (via CNN.com). It is not the first failure and the first problem at American airports: CNN cites other examples, such as arson in 2014 and a system failure in 2023. Both caused thousands of delays or cancellations of flights.
What is the estimated cost for the upgrade? The possible costs vary widely:
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy estimated that modernizing the air traffic control system could cost 12.5 billion US dollars.
- The Modern Skies Coalition, a group of experts from the aviation industry and representatives from pilot associations, stated that they would need at least 31 billion (18.5 billion more than planned).
The plans still need to be approved by Congress before any money can be made available. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is already receiving support from airlines, airports, and pilot associations, which have long called for modernization. However, it can only really get started once the plans have been approved by Congress.
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