Computer problem causing delays at New York metro, DC airports

[LiberalElite]

Source: ABC.com

NEW YORK --
Thousands of travelers along the East Coast faced flight delays Saturday due to technical issues at a Federal Aviation Administration center in Virginia, authorities said.

FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said the agency is investigating an automation problem at an air traffic center in Leesburg, Va. Flights into and out of New York- and Washington-area airports were being grounded with delays stretching to 2 hours, 45 minutes in some cases.

The FAA also said there were delays at New York's LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International airports.

Read more: http://abc7ny.com/news/mess-in-the-air-flights-grounded-in-new-york-area-due-to-computer-problem/932910/

[bluevoter4life]

1. Meh.

If it's not one thing, it's another regarding delays up and down the Northeast Corridor. Every single day, before I plug in on position, I see delays and flow control in and out of NYC Metro airports. Yes, this is potentially serious, as those that are already at high altitudes could be without radar services, but every controller that works in an ARTCC is trained in non-radar methods, which are much more stringent than controlling with a radar. I'm sure many airlines were pissed that they couldn't fly above 12,000 but honestly, it is a situation similar to the Chicago ARTCC fire last year. This one just happens to take much less time to resolve.

[LiberalElite]

2. It's been resolved "already" nt

[bluevoter4life]

3. With NextGen rolling out in ATC facilities nationwide

These things are bound to happen. FAA IT is probably working overtime to fix many of the glitches, and are able to get things restored relatively quickly. It was like that computer glitch that happened at LA Center a few years ago. A controller typed in a command wrong and sent the computers spiraling. IT was able to get that issue patched pretty quick and things were back to normal (in a manner of speaking) by the end of the day. I believe they were able to create a patch as well to prevent it from happening again. Honestly though, with what I know about the northeast, a 2 hour and 45 minute delay isn't much longer than one might expect on a normal day.

[LiberalElite]

4. That's proably true - I don't fly that much nt