‘Like Apollo 13': What is wrong with US air traffic control?
A series of communication blackouts and fatal crashes have exposed serious vulnerabilities in US air traffic control, prompting government officials to compare the system to the ill-fated Apollo 13 space mission.
Communication between controllers and planes has failed in two incidents in the past two weeks at Newark Liberty outside New York, one of America's busiest airports. The cuts meant controllers were unable to contact pilots. On Friday, radar screens went blank.
The events at the New Jersey airport, which had the potential to result in catastrophic accidents, caused disruption for thousands of passengers as flights were cancelled or delayed. Yet there is no sign of swift improvement.
On Sunday, the airport was affected by a smaller telecommunications issue, this time at the Philadelphia terminal
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
FAA says Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center experiencing telecommunications issue
WASHINGTON, June 20 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration said on Friday that the Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center in Florida is experiencing a telecommunications issue that has resulted in a loss of radar, frequencies, and automation equipment. The center continues to operate, according to the agency, which added that there is no loss of critical air traffic services due to the redundancies in both the equipment and telecommunications. The FAA said L3Harris (LHX.N), opens new tab and the local exchange providers have engaged and have initially identified the source of the outage as a fiber cut in Florida. It added that a local exchange carrier is on site and working to repair the issue. The center is responsible for 160,000 square miles (414,400 sq km) of airspace and covers parts of five states, including Florida and Georgia, according to the FAA.
Times
2 hours ago
- Times
Is this America's most inspiring garden?
I am not sure how I first heard about Chanticleer Garden, which is in a suburb of Philadelphia with the prosaic name of Wayne. It's one of those gardener's gardens that you hear dropped into various podcasts or conversations. It has been called 'America's most inspiring garden' and I knew that when my husband, Ian, and I went to visit his cousin in Philly a few years ago, we just had to go via Wayne. 'Wayne?' queried Ian, and I had to admit that it didn't sound like a destination sort of place. As I drove the rental car through deep suburbia, even I began to doubt our mission. I almost punched the air when we found the entrance. It's one of those places: if you think you're lost, you're probably there.
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Stressed Bill Belichick seen drenched in sweat with Jordon Hudson after rushing through airport to catch flight
Bill Belichick got so hot and flustered during a race to make a flight to Las Vegas on Wednesday that he was sweating through his clothes. Pictures obtained by Daily Mail show the six-time Super Bowl winner and 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson stood at their gate after sprinting through the terminal at Charlotte Douglas International airport. The couple were hoping to make a plane from North Carolina to Las Vegas but their efforts had left Belichick, 73, drenched in sweat. The pictures show the UNC coach and his younger girlfriend talking to a member of airline staff with a huge sweat patch all the way down his back. Unfortunately, he had chosen to wear a light grey hoodie which meant his perspiration could be clearly seen from distance. Belichick was obviously tense as he was seen arriving at the gate at 6:58am, just 16 minutes before his flight to Las Vegas was due to depart. Witnesses also claim that Belichick hadn't even had time to put on his socks, such was the rush he found himself in. Fortunately for the couple, they were allowed to board their flight. They even packed some extremely sparkly luggage as Hudson posted a picture of them wearing their respective championship rings. Tagging their location as Las Vegas, one of Belichick's Super Bowl rings and Hudson's cheerleading equivalent were both front and center of the picture. The purpose of their trip was to attend the grand opening of Tom Brady's Hall of Excellence museum at the Fontainebleau in Sin City. Two days later, Hudson posted a picture of her soaking up the sun in a bikini in California. She was lying on a sunbed with a cocktail in hand and plenty of delicious food next to her. Earlier this week she took a sly jab at Belichick 's ex partner, Linda Holliday, in a sentimental Instagram post, where she name-dropped 'Nantucket Socialites'. Hudson's post was primarily about Melissa Sapini, last year's Miss Massachusetts who relinquished her title this week to the new winner, with Hudson paying tribute to her friend's time on top on Tuesday. The long, sappy post included a jab at Holliday near the bottom, after Hudson gave Sapini tons of shout-outs. 'I know you will keep shining, metamorphosing and taking up space; even when others threaten you and insist that you don't belong, e.g. the "Nantucket Socialites"' Hudson said. Hudon's jab is in reference to an incident where Holliday did not like Hudson and Sapini coming to a certain Nantucket Christmas party late last year. Belichick, 73, and Holliday, 61, broke up in September 2023 after 16 years together. He met Hudson on a flight from Boston to Florida in 2021.
