The FAA is finally phasing out floppy disks from air traffic control

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is set to retire its long-standing reliance on floppy disks for air traffic control systems, according to a recent announcement. The outdated technology, which originated in 1971, has been utilized by the FAA since the 1980s at over 400 facilities across the country. These systems contain critical weather and other essential data for air traffic controllers.

However, the agency now plans to replace these systems with a more advanced Enterprise – Information Display System (E-IDS), which will provide faster access to information, reduce repair expenses, and enhance safety for public air travel. The E-IDS, a digital display for relaying status updates and alerts, is expected to be installed in 435 sites by the end of 2028.

The first five locations to receive the upgrades are Atlantic City International Airport, Nashville International Airport, Greater Rochester International Airport, along with data processing centers in Atlanta and Salt Lake City. Despite their age, floppy disks have persisted in government systems, with the US Air Force only discontinuing their use in nuclear missile launch silos in 2019, and the Japanese government completing the phase-out of all but one such system in 2024.