US air traffic control enters the 21st century, starts to abandon floppy disks
The FAA will need to come up with more money to finish the wider overhaul, though
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is phasing out 21st century technology in favor of outdated systems such as floppy disks, according to a recent announcement. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the agency is moving towards the "21st century tech is in" era, ending the use of four systems that have been in operation since the 1980s at over 400 facilities nationwide.
The Enterprise Information Display System (E-IDS) is set to replace these systems, consolidating data from various sources into a common digital platform to aid air traffic controllers. The FAA has already identified five facilities to receive E-IDS upgrades, with plans to install the system at 435 sites by the end of 2028. However, the FAA's financial situation remains challenging, with additional funding of $20 billion reportedly still needed for the upgrade process.
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