The US FAA is responding to problems with its telecommunications infrastructure today as airlines are forced to manually input flight plans, resulting in delays.
Carriers have been sending their traffic management information to the FAA via fax or e-mail, and the FAA has been inputting that information into its system since the agency became aware of the problem at 05:30EST, an FAA spokeswoman says.
"We may have some efficiency problems," she says. "Ordinarily information comes in automatically through the computer. Something happened. We don't know yet."
The spokeswoman adds that this is a nationwide problem and that the agency cannot say at this time where the problem originated.
She notes that the system that tracks transoceanic flights has not been impacted so international flights arriving in the US are probably not affected.
It is not immediately clear how many flights have been, or will be, impacted. Low-cost carrier AirTran Airways has cancelled 38 flights and dozens more had been delayed as of 09:00EST due to flight-plan filing issues at the FAA, an AirTran spokesman says.
"We will continue to update the status of flights as the situation continues to evolve," he adds.
Chicago O'Hare and Midway International airports are also reporting delays for both inbound and outbound flights.
"At O'Hare, delays are averaging about 20 minutes," the airports' operator, the Chicago department of aviation, says in a statement. "At Midway, delays are averaging about 30 minutes. Some cancellations have been reported, and airlines anticipate further delays later this morning."
Atlanta Airport says that it is monitoring the situation and has brought in additional staff.
"All passengers are encouraged to contact the airlines regarding the statuses of their flights before they head to the airport," it says.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news