{
  "id": 18573332,
  "title": "FAA to finally ditch floppy disks in what it calls \"historic\" tech upgrade",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/faa-to-finally-ditch-floppy-disks-in-what-it-calls-historic-tech-18573332",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-11-06T19:12:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ars Technica",
    "slug": "ars-technica",
    "url": "https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/11/faa-to-finally-ditch-floppy-disks-in-what-it-calls-historic-tech-upgrade/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is set to undertake a significant technological upgrade to its air traffic control system, marking a historic departure from the use of floppy disks. In a statement, the agency announced that it will discontinue the reliance on these outdated technology components, which have been in use since the 1980s, and replace them with the Enterprise Information Display System (E-IDS). This upgrade is part of a broader modernization initiative aimed at enhancing the efficiency and safety of America's air traffic control mechanisms. The E-IDS will be implemented across more than 400 facilities, replacing the existing outdated systems that currently house crucial weather and other essential data needed for critical safety alerts. The new system promises to provide operationally vital information for managing aircraft, offering a streamlined and more advanced solution to the outdated floppy disk technology that has long been a part of the FAA's apparatus.",
  "summary": "FAA information display systems to be floppy-free at 435 sites by end of 2028.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Verge",
        "title": "The FAA is finally ditching floppy disks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/the-faa-is-finally-ditching-floppy-disks",
        "published": "2026-11-05T17:13:42.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Engadget",
        "title": "The FAA is finally phasing out floppy disks from air traffic control",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/the-faa-is-finally-phasing-out-floppy-disks-from-air-traffic-control",
        "published": "2026-11-05T19:16:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "TechSpot",
        "title": "It's almost 2027, and the FAA is finally replacing the floppy disks used by US air traffic control",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/its-almost-2027-and-the-faa-is-finally-replacing-the-floppy-disks",
        "published": "2026-11-06T11:15:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Mashable",
        "title": "The FAA says it will phase out floppy disks by 2028",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/the-faa-says-it-will-phase-out-floppy-disks-by-2028",
        "published": "2026-11-06T17:57:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}