GoKawiilFAA to replace floppy-disk-based air traffic systems with E-IDS by 2028
The FAA announced on November 5 a plan to deploy a new Enterprise Information Display System (E-IDS) across 435-453 facilities by the end of 2028, replacing four 1980s-era information systems that still rely on floppy disks. The platform will give controllers a single, centralized view of weather reports, flight alerts, equipment issues and airspace restrictions. Initial rollout sites include Atlantic City, Nashville and Rochester airports plus FAA data hubs in Atlanta and Salt Lake City.
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The move addresses long-standing concerns about aging, hard-to-maintain infrastructure underpinning US air traffic control, which officials have said complicates both reliability and modernization efforts. It follows a $12.5 billion congressional allocation last year for air traffic control upgrades, suggesting this system is part of a broader push to overhaul outdated equipment. Faster, consolidated access to operational data could help controllers respond more quickly to hazards, though actual safety or efficiency gains will depend on execution across hundreds of sites.
- FAA plans to replace floppy-disk-based legacy systems with E-IDS at up to 453 facilities by 2028
- First five sites include airports in Atlantic City, Nashville and Rochester, plus Atlanta and Salt Lake City data hubs
- Upgrade follows $12.5 billion in congressional funding approved last year for air traffic control modernization
Source: tomshardware.com — Newton Gitonga, 2026-11-07
Published there as: “US FAA to eliminate floppy disks from air traffic control by 2028”
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