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Fri Nov 20 23:43:21 PST 2009

NEWS

UPDATE: FAA Computer Problem Causes Widespread Delays

UPDATED Thursday, November 19, 2009 --- 3:30 p.m. ATLANTA (AP) -- It's been a frustrating day for some air travelers. The Federal Aviation Administration says a computer circuit board failure this morning kept air traffic control computers in different parts of the country from communicating with each other. The glitch was fixed in about four hours, but the ripple effect of the delays and cancellations continues to linger. It's been particularly bad at the world's busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta. For one family there, a four-day weekend was shrinking to three. They'd expected to board a flight to St. Louis at 9:30, but instead were looking at a 4 p.m. departure. At Dulles International Airport outside Washington, one senior citizen said AirTran recommended she head to Reagan National Airport instead after it canceled her flight to San Antonio. Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. _____________________________________________________ UPDATED Thursday, November 19, 2009 --- 3:00 p.m. ATLANTA (AP) -- New York Sen. Charles E. Schumer says the Federal Aviation Administration needs more resources to prevent problems like the computer glitch that's causing cancellations and flight delays nationwide. The Democrat says in a statement that the previous FAA's neglect and poor management has left the current FAA and the public with an aviation system "in shambles." He says without more resources, glitches that cause delays and chaos across the country will happen more regularly. The FAA says the glitch has been fixed but it's unclear how much longer flights might be affected. Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. _____________________________________________________ UPDATED Thursday, November 19, 2009 --- 9:15 a.m. NOTE: Dave Jensen from Dane County Regional Airport says there has been a slight impact at the airport (a few delays). WASHINGTON (AP) -- FAA says flight computer system working again. Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. _____________________________________________________ UPDATED Thursday, November 19, 2009 --- 9:00 a.m. FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- American Airlines says several hundred of its flights are being delayed around the country today due to a problem with an FAA system. The Federal Aviation Administration cited trouble with a system that collects the flight plans from airlines. A spokesman for American says the delays are running from a few minutes to a bit over an hour. He says American was told the problem would be fixed soon, but he says "once you get behind, it tends to stay that way" throughout the day. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport, was among those affected. Passengers are being asked to check the status of their flights online before going to airports. Only minor delays were being reported at metropolitan New York City area airports. Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. _____________________________________________________ UPDATED Thursday, November 19, 2009 --- 8:35 a.m. Posted Thursday, November 19, 2009 ---- 7:55 a.m. NOTE: As of 8:35 a.m., there are a few delays now indicated at Dane County Regional Airport (via website). Click on the link below for the Dane County Regional Airport Departure Webpage. By HARRY R. WEBER AP Airlines Writer ATLANTA (AP) -- There are widespread flight cancellations and delays nationwide because of a problem with the FAA system that collects airlines' flight plans. FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen says she doesn't know how many flights are being affected or when the problem will be resolved. An AirTran Airways spokesman says Thursday there's no danger to flights in the air, and flights are still taking off and landing. However, spokesman Christopher White says flight plans are having to be inputted manually because of a malfunction with the automated system. As a result, there are delays and cancellations. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport, has been particularly affected. AirTran has canceled 22 flights and dozens more flights have been delayed as of 8 a.m. EST. Delta Air Lines also has suffered. Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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