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.
tomshardware.com
· 2026-11-07
The FAA announced it will roll out the Enterprise Information Display System, retiring floppy-disk-based tools used since the 1980s across more than 400 air traffic control facilities. The new system is meant to speed delivery of weather alerts (PIREPs) and Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) to controllers, replacing manual paper-strip processes. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the upgrade lets controllers instantly share flight alerts and airspace restrictions.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-11-06
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.
faa.gov
· 2026-11-06
The FAA has confirmed it is phasing out floppy disk drives still used in parts of its air traffic control infrastructure, replacing them with more modern storage technology. The agency has relied on the outdated format as part of legacy systems that have remained in service for decades.
hardware.slashdot.org
· 2026-11-06
The FAA announced plans to replace floppy disk-based systems still used at more than 400 air traffic control facilities, including the 1990s-era Information Display System 4, which runs on an unsupported Microsoft platform. The agency's new Enterprise Information Display System will consolidate weather, NOTAMs, equipment status and airspace restriction data onto one platform, with rollout targeted for completion by the end of 2028. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the modernization effort on social media, and five sites, including Atlantic City International and Nashville International airports, have already made the switch.
techspot.com
· 2026-11-06
A Learjet 60 traveling from Austin to the Bahamas crashed into a South Florida neighbourhood on Sunday afternoon, exploding into a fireball near a roadway. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed all nine people on board were killed, and the FAA and NTSB are now investigating the cause. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said there were no immediate reports of ground casualties.
cbc.ca
· 2026-11-02
Comparing Apple's own battery specs for the 2011 and 2026 16-inch MacBook Pro models shows the newer M5 Max machine packs a larger 99.6 watt-hour battery into a chassis about 16% lighter and 31% thinner than its 2011 counterpart. Using Apple's stated web-browsing battery life, average power draw falls from about 11W in 2011 to about 6.2W now, while independent rundown testing shows an even steeper drop from roughly 10.4W to about 3.2W.
engadget.com
· 2026-11-01
Reliable Robotics, an autonomous flight startup founded by SpaceX veterans, raised $115 million in an extension to its Series D round, combining $90 million in equity led by Nimble Partners and $25 million in debt from Silicon Valley Bank. The round brings its Series D total to $275 million and its cumulative funding to $380 million, pushing its valuation past $1 billion. CEO Robert Rose said the company continues to provide evidence to the FAA as it works toward certifying its autonomous flight systems.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-20
A developer launched Dovepass, a web tool that lets users enter a drone's specifications and a planned flight path in San Francisco to check whether the route complies with FAA Part 107 rules and local restrictions. Users input details like airframe type, takeoff weight, battery capacity and speed limits, and the tool estimates flight time and legality for that specific route.
dovepass.com
· 2026-10-19
On September 17, 1991, a routine Con Edison-requested power transfer led to a rectifier trip at AT&T's 33 Thomas Street facility in Manhattan, which went unnoticed as backup batteries silently kept DC power flowing to FAA telecom lines. Hours later the batteries drained, cutting radar feeds, radios, and flight-handoff links for New York's radar center and the Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Newark towers simultaneously, forcing controllers onto manual backups and resulting in 1,174 flights delayed or canceled.
matthorn.io
· 2026-10-19
Aviation experts say any version of Tesla's Roadster 2 capable of flight would need FAA certification, a process that could take at least a year, plus clearance to operate in national airspace. Pilots would likely need a recreational aviation license rather than a standard driver's license, and most states restrict takeoffs and landings to airports or designated helipads rather than public roads.
wired.com
· 2026-10-16
Sara Nozkova, a former autonomous vehicle engineer, founded Flox Intelligence to build an AI-based wildlife deterrent system aimed at reducing animal strikes on railways, roads and airports. The system is designed as an alternative to conventional deterrents such as sirens, lights, fences and culling. Nozkova developed the concept after years of studying how existing automated systems struggle to adapt to unpredictable natural environments.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-13
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