Air traffic controllers at Newark International Airport experienced repeated outages in April and May, but redundant systems helped keep planes safe. Controllers lost radar and radio communications for brief periods, but backup systems kicked in, allowing them to hand off planes without incident.
The FAA’s system relies on aging copper wires and outdated computers, which can slow down signals. This led to controllers being unable to see or communicate with planes coming from or going to Newark for up to 90 seconds. However, the radar stayed online during outages, thanks to backup systems.
To prevent collisions, planes are equipped with collision avoidance technology that shows pilots where other planes are moving around them. If communication fails, pilots continue on their last-directed path and broadcast their position to every other plane in the area.
The FAA has implemented safety limits, reducing arrivals and departures at Newark to 28 per hour. While disruptions expose weaknesses in air traffic control systems, the FAA’s redundancies keep flying safe.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/aviation-safety-faa-newark-traffic-control-outage-27393e296dc5557948aeab023125fda4