Latest news with #communicationsoutage
Washington Post
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
FAA investigating Denver air traffic control communications outage
An air traffic control facility in Denver briefly suffered a communications outage Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed Thursday, adding to a string of recent technology failures suffered by air traffic controllers. The outage affected part of the Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center, a large facility that handles aircraft typically at high altitudes. The FAA said that a pair of transmitters covering a segment of airspace went down around 1:50 p.m. local time. Controllers were able to use another frequency to communicate with pilots, the FAA said, aircraft remained safely spaced apart. The agency said it would investigate the incident. 'Aircraft remained safely separated and there were no impacts to operations,' the FAA said in a statement. The outage comes after weeks of disruptions at Newark International Airport, caused in part by technology outages at a facility that handles planes in the area, and is another indication of dysfunction with the FAA's systems. The agency has struggled to modernize, and relies in many cases on aging gear to manage the tens of thousands of aircraft that travel around the country every day. The Trump administration has pledged to accelerate upgrades, outlining a three year plan of investments. The Denver facility is responsible for traffic in a 285,000 square mile area in Colorado and parts of neighboring states. It handles aircraft in the middle of their journeys, in contrast with the facility implicated in the Newark disruptions, which is responsible for handling the approach to the airport. In Newark's case officials have blamed communications links and failed backup procedures for a series of outages. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said this week that the FAA has already made some improvements, and the agency has a plan for further changes to avoid future disruptions. This year's deadly crash between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines jet, followed by the chaos at Newark has put the FAA under unusually heavy scrutiny. FAA officials sat for two days of hearings in Congress this week, hearing from lawmakers who wanted reassurance that their constituents were still safe to fly, and the agency is hosting meetings with airlines to discuss schedule reductions to ease the pressure on Newark.
New York Times
15-05-2025
- New York Times
Colorado Air Traffic Control Facility Lost Contact With Pilots
Part of an air traffic control facility in Colorado that coordinates flights over a large swath of the West had a 90-second communications outage on Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration said on Thursday. The outage occurred after a different air traffic control facility in Philadelphia had two radar outages in recent weeks that left controllers unable to communicate with planes headed to or from Newark Liberty International Airport, a major international hub near New York. The Colorado outage occurred around 1:50 p.m. when a pair of transmitters that cover a portion of the airspace went down. 'Controllers used another frequency to relay instructions to pilots,' the aviation agency said. 'Aircraft remained safely separated and there were no impacts to operations. The F.A.A. is investigating.' Unlike the Philadelphia facility, which mainly guides planes landing at or taking off from Newark, the facility in Colorado oversees planes during their journeys. The aircraft are typically higher in the sky, more spaced out and moving at steady speeds. There are about two dozen such facilities nationwide each covering more than 100,000 square miles of airspace. The outage was reported earlier by the ABC affiliate Denver7. According to the station, almost two dozen pilots headed to Denver International Airport were unable to contact air traffic control for six minutes on Monday afternoon. According to FlightAware, a flight tracking service, the Denver airport, the biggest in Colorado, had a relatively uneventful day on Monday. Just two flights were canceled and fewer than 300 had been delayed. United Airlines is the largest airline at the airport, commanding about 38 percent of flights there. Southwest Airlines is the next largest, with a 32 percent share, according to federal data. In a statement, United said the outage did not disrupt its operations. Southwest did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Newark's airport chaos frustrates carriers, worries travelers
By Doyinsola Oladipo and Rajesh Kumar Singh NEWARK (Reuters) - Travelers flying in and out of New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport were increasingly edgy about a host of recent problems at the busy airport, but they were most alarmed about two separate equipment outages in the last two weeks that disrupted communications between air traffic controllers and pilots. The airport is one of the busiest in the United States, last year handling nearly 49 million passengers out of the New York metro area, the most populous in the country. Runway construction and air traffic control staffing shortages have caused cancellations and delays to spike in recent days. But the disruptions to communications between pilots and air traffic control left travelers shaken, with some questioning if flying out of the airport is safe. On Friday at around 4 a.m. EST (0800 GMT), a facility that guides air traffic in and out of the airport suffered a 90-second communications outage, following an April 28 incident that also lasted about 90 seconds. 'It's a little concerning that this is the second outage in under 30 days,' said Mikhail Liverpool, 37, from Somerset County, New Jersey, who said his flight to Georgia was delayed for four hours. 'The fact that they didn't remediate the problem the first time is, you know, worrisome to say the least.' Newark was the preferred airport for Mark Nelson, a systems engineer at Siemens Healthineers, who travels for work and personal reasons. But after the two incidents, Nelson said he has decided to avoid it. "If the FAA or someone tells you it is safe to fly from Newark, do not believe them," said Nelson. The airport was already considered a headache for travelers. Last year, JD Power ranked it the lowest in terms of overall customer satisfaction among mega airports in North America. The disruptions have become more acute. Since May 1, flight cancellations have surged to an average of 49 flights per day, up from 4 flights a day in early April, according to aviation analytics company Cirium. On-time departures dropped to 63%, well below industry norms of about 80%. Allison Miles, 34, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, said she now plans on avoiding Newark after her flight from Houston was delayed by more than 8 hours. "I'll probably stay home for a lot this year, because until they can figure this out, I'm not going to get out there," she said. The Federal Aviation Administration plans to meet with major airlines on Wednesday, including United Airlines, the largest operator at Newark, about temporary cuts in flights at the airport. United has culled about 10% of its daily Newark flights and waived change fees and fare differences for customers affected by the disruptions. The FAA last year relocated control of the Newark airspace to Philadelphia to address staffing and congested New York area traffic. United CEO Scott Kirby has blamed the airport's stretched infrastructure for the delays. He wants U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to designate Newark as a slot-controlled airport, which would allow the FAA to limit the number of departing or arriving flights to prevent delays. Duffy wants Congress to allocate billions to upgrade the aging U.S. air traffic control system, but any overhaul would take years. In the interim, some travelers said they'll shift airports. 'Every other week I'm traveling, and the only issues I have is traveling here,' said John Clark, 50, from Greenville, South Carolina, and a regular United flyer. Moving forward, he is looking to fly out of LaGuardia Airport in Queens, even if it lengthens his commute to his New Jersey office. 'I'll try LaGuardia again for a little while until that becomes a pain point.'
Reuters
10-05-2025
- Reuters
Newark's airport chaos frustrates carriers, worries travelers
NEWARK, May 10 (Reuters) - Travelers flying in and out of New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport were increasingly edgy about a host of recent problems at the busy airport, but they were most alarmed about two separate equipment outages in the last two weeks that disrupted communications between air traffic controllers and pilots. The airport is one of the busiest in the United States, last year handling nearly 49 million passengers out of the New York metro area, the most populous in the country. Runway construction and air traffic control staffing shortages have caused cancellations and delays to spike in recent days. But the disruptions to communications between pilots and air traffic control left travelers shaken, with some questioning if flying out of the airport is safe. On Friday at around 4 a.m. EST (0800 GMT), a facility that guides air traffic in and out of the airport suffered a 90-second communications outage, following an April 28 incident that also lasted about 90 seconds. 'It's a little concerning that this is the second outage in under 30 days,' said Mikhail Liverpool, 37, from Somerset County, New Jersey, who said his flight to Georgia was delayed for four hours. 'The fact that they didn't remediate the problem the first time is, you know, worrisome to say the least.' Newark was the preferred airport for Mark Nelson, a systems engineer at Siemens Healthineers, who travels for work and personal reasons. But after the two incidents, Nelson said he has decided to avoid it. "If the FAA or someone tells you it is safe to fly from Newark, do not believe them," said Nelson. The airport was already considered a headache for travelers. Last year, JD Power ranked it the lowest in terms of overall customer satisfaction among mega airports in North America. The disruptions have become more acute. Since May 1, flight cancellations have surged to an average of 49 flights per day, up from 4 flights a day in early April, according to aviation analytics company Cirium. On-time departures dropped to 63%, well below industry norms of about 80%. Allison Miles, 34, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, said she now plans on avoiding Newark after her flight from Houston was delayed by more than 8 hours. "I'll probably stay home for a lot this year, because until they can figure this out, I'm not going to get out there," she said. The Federal Aviation Administration plans to meet with major airlines on Wednesday, including United Airlines (UAL.O), opens new tab, the largest operator at Newark, about temporary cuts in flights at the airport. United has culled about 10% of its daily Newark flights and waived change fees and fare differences for customers affected by the disruptions. The FAA last year to Philadelphia to address staffing and congested New York area traffic. United CEO Scott Kirby has blamed the airport's stretched infrastructure for the delays. He wants U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to designate Newark as a slot-controlled airport, which would allow the FAA to limit the number of departing or arriving flights to prevent delays. Duffy wants Congress to allocate billions to upgrade the aging U.S. air traffic control system, but any overhaul would take years. In the interim, some travelers said they'll shift airports. 'Every other week I'm traveling, and the only issues I have is traveling here,' said John Clark, 50, from Greenville, South Carolina, and a regular United flyer. Moving forward, he is looking to fly out of LaGuardia Airport in Queens, even if it lengthens his commute to his New Jersey office. 'I'll try LaGuardia again for a little while until that becomes a pain point.'
CNET
09-05-2025
- CNET
Another Outage Strikes Newark Airport. How to Avoid Getting Stuck if Your Flight Is Delayed or Cancelled
Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) experienced another communications outage today, the latest disruption in a series of controller shortages and equipment malfunctions that have been wreaking havoc on travelers' plans and wallets. The latest telecommunications outage, which occurred around 3:55 a.m. ET on Friday, May 9, impacted the Philadelphia facility that guides aircraft in and out of Newark airspace, according to a Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson. The outage lasted about 90 seconds. Last week, the Philadelphia air traffic control center temporarily lost its radar and communications for flights in and out of the airport. Controllers couldn't hear, see or communicate with pilots. The Federal Aviation Administration emailed a statement expressing its concern that the "antiquated air traffic control system" was affecting its workforce. After this incident, 20% of the airport's controllers took leave under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act, which covers federal employees who are injured or traumatized while working. The shortage of controllers, along with construction taking place on one of the airport's two runways, has led to further flight disruptions. "This particular air traffic control facility has been chronically understaffed for years," said United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby in a statement. "Newark airport cannot handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate there in the weeks and months ahead." At the time this was published, the FAA estimates the average delay out of Newark to be 48 minutes, but on Wednesday it was over four hours. This morning, according to FlightAware,, there were 106 flight delays and 40 flight cancellations out of EWR. How to avoid flight disruptions in Newark The best way to prevent a trip delay out of Newark is to avoid flying or connecting through the airport altogether. If you can, travel to and from a nearby airport like JFK International Airport or LaGuardia Airport to avoid any potential headaches. Flight delays and cancellations can happen anywhere, but it's more of a possibility in Newark right now. If Newark is your connecting flight, look into other connecting airports. You can sometimes change your connecting flight after booking depending on your destination and the airline's policy. Philadelphia International Airport may be an option depending on where you're headed. Protect your purchase with trip delay reimbursement Many travel credit cards offer trip delay reimbursement if your flight is delayed for a covered reason, like equipment failure or inclement weather. This perk helps cover expenses that are usually non-refundable or not provided by airlines, such as a hotel stay, transportation and food. Some airlines will offer vouchers for these expenses if your flight is canceled until the next day or if the delay is over three hours. Depending on your credit card issuer, the benefits you get as a cardholder may be better than what the airline offers -- like hotel choices and spending limits. So it's best to compare options. There are a few limits and rules to consider when filing a trip delay reimbursement claim with your credit card company. You must be delayed for a certain amount of time before you can use your card's trip delay reimbursement benefit. For example, Chase requires 12 hours for most cardholders but only six for Sapphire Reserve cardholders. There's usually a limit on how much your card issuer will cover, such as $500 per person for unreimbursed expenses. You'll need proof that your flight was delayed and any expenses you incurred. Usually, a letter from the airport and receipts of your purchases will suffice when filing the claim. You must have booked the flight on your card for the trip to qualify. Travel credit cards with trip delay reimbursement Here are a few travel cards that offer trip delay reimbursement. Keep in mind that some hotel and airline credit cards also have this perk and may be worth considering if you're loyal to a specific brand. Before applying, make sure the card's annual fee matches your travel habits. If you can't take full advantage of the card, the fee might not be worth the cost. Credit card Delay time Expense limit Annual fee Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card* 12 hours $500 $95 Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card* 6 hours $500 $550 The Platinum Card® from American Express 6 hours $500 $695 (see rates & fees; terms apply) Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card* 6 hours $500 $395 Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit to learn more. What to know before you file a claim with your credit card issuer It's best to make sure your trip qualifies before you file a claim. Call your card issuer or check the website to understand any requirements. Hang on to any receipts and other documents during the delay, as you'll need them to file your claim. And remember to always make the trip purchase on your card to qualify for the benefits. Simply being a cardholder won't do. *All information about the Chase Sapphire Preferred, the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Capital One Venture X Credit Card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
