Bloomberg
• Danny Lee
A failed FAA telecommunications circuit, severed backup fiber and a separate NATS connectivity problem disrupted air traffic across major US Northeast airports and parts of Scottish airspace. The incidents grounded or delayed inbound flights and renewed questions about the resilience and redundancy of air traffic control networks.
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The FAA has begun limited operations of its cloud-based Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes, and Trajectories platform, using roughly 200 data streams to recommend schedules and anticipate congestion and weather disruptions around Reagan National, Dulles and BWI. Initial operations are expected to expand by year-end.
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A government watchdog report cited by Sen. Ron Wyden says communications between U.S. air traffic controllers and commercial aircraft are “incredibly insecure.” The findings call on the Federal Aviation Administration to take steps to address identified threats to a core operational communications system.
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A failed FAA telecommunications circuit, severed backup fiber and a separate NATS connectivity problem disrupted air traffic across major US Northeast airports and parts of Scottish airspace. The incidents grounded or delayed inbound flights and renewed questions about the resilience and redundancy of air traffic control networks.
The FAA found President Donald Trump’s proposed triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery would not pose a hazard to aircraft, but said the structure must feature a continuously burning flame and floodlights to remain visible to pilots.
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A one-millisecond software defect brought down the UK system managing airspace on September 8, causing widespread flight disruption and thousands of cancellations. NATS’ preliminary report ruled out a cyber-attack and military intervention as engineers worked to restore service.
The FAA is adopting a more modest rollout for a new artificial-intelligence tool after airlines expressed concern about its impact on flight scheduling. The phased approach is intended to help manage implementation and limit disruption as the agency introduces the technology.
Graduates of the Virginia college’s air traffic control program will bypass the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City and proceed directly to on-site training, making the institution the latest participant in an effort to streamline the path from classroom instruction to controller qualification.
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The Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Army are moving to implement safety recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation into the January 2025 collision between a passenger jet and Army helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
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