GoKawiilFAA rolls out new E-IDS system, replacing floppy disks in air traffic control
The FAA has begun installing a new Enterprise Information Display System (E-IDS) to replace four 1980s-era systems that stored weather and operational data on floppy disks across more than 400 facilities. The first upgrades went live at Atlantic City International, Nashville International, Greater Rochester International, and data hubs in Atlanta and Salt Lake City, with full rollout to 435 sites planned by the end of 2028.
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The shift away from floppy-disk-based systems addresses long-standing concerns about aging infrastructure in U.S. air traffic control, which officials say has led to costly repairs and reliance on manual workarounds. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford frame the move as part of a broader modernization push, suggesting it could improve reliability and decision-making speed for controllers, though the multi-year timeline means full benefits won't be realized until 2028 at the earliest.
- E-IDS replaces four outdated systems dating to the 1980s across over 400 FAA facilities
- First five sites upgraded include airports in Atlantic City, Nashville, and Rochester plus data hubs in Atlanta and Salt Lake City
- Full deployment to 435 sites is targeted for completion by the end of 2028
Source: faa.gov, 2026-11-06
Published there as: “FAA Begins Retiring Decades Old Floppy Disks from Air Traffic Control”
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