Meltdown: Communications Failure Leads To Ground Delays Nationwide

FAA Facility In Atlanta Unable To Receive Flight Plans

Computer problems at a flight control center near Atlanta, GA have snagged flights nationwide, leading to widespread delays throughout the air traffic control network.

The center, located in the Atlanta suburb of Hampton, had a communication link failure in the network about 1:30 pm EDT, said FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen. The center handles instrument flight plans filed for aircraft departing from airports in the eastern portion of the United States.

"As a result, all the flight plans for any instrument flights nationwide are having to be processed through a similar facility in Salt Lake City," Bergen told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "So that's slowing things down."

Initially, the problem impacted transcontinental routes -- those flights requiring coordination between both centers. However, the ripple effect has since spread nationwide, affecting all flights.

Bergan stressed the problems are not affecting safety of planes already in the air, or on approach to land. However, the time lag in releasing IFR flights has led to delays as long as 90 minutes on the ground in Atlanta, as well as already-congested airports around New York City, and in Chicago.

Storms in the vicinity of several large commercial airports, including ATL, are also compounding the problems. It's possible those 90-minute delays could stretch out for hours, and likely result in cancelled flights.

FMI: www.fly.faa.gov aero-news.net

Fonte: Flight Safety Information 29/08/2008.