Moby
05-23-2008, 03:42 PM
If the system isn't needed then why do we have it?
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/delays/2008-05-23-faa-flights_N.htm?csp=34
WASHINGTON (AP) — The government system that issues preflight notices to pilots about runway, equipment and security issues has been down for at least 12 hours, but passenger safety has not been compromised, the Federal Aviation Administration said Friday.
The database has not been able to issue updates or new notices since late Thursday, but pilots have continued to receive any relevant information from local air traffic controllers and through alternate systems, FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown said Friday.
The system has failed before but service is usually restored more quickly, according to one pilots' group.
All commercial and business jet pilots were alerted of the problem through a related federal system that has continued to collect any notices to airmen, or notams. But until the problem is resolved, the FAA is deferring any scheduled equipment maintenance work that would normally require a notice, Brown said.
Any local airport or airspace issues that arose after the system went down, including storm damage that closed some runways in Houston, were transmitted to pilots by air traffic controllers, Brown said. The system is also used to notify pilots of malfunctioning navigational aids, missile launches and special traffic management programs, according to the agency's website.
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http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/delays/2008-05-23-faa-flights_N.htm?csp=34
WASHINGTON (AP) — The government system that issues preflight notices to pilots about runway, equipment and security issues has been down for at least 12 hours, but passenger safety has not been compromised, the Federal Aviation Administration said Friday.
The database has not been able to issue updates or new notices since late Thursday, but pilots have continued to receive any relevant information from local air traffic controllers and through alternate systems, FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown said Friday.
The system has failed before but service is usually restored more quickly, according to one pilots' group.
All commercial and business jet pilots were alerted of the problem through a related federal system that has continued to collect any notices to airmen, or notams. But until the problem is resolved, the FAA is deferring any scheduled equipment maintenance work that would normally require a notice, Brown said.
Any local airport or airspace issues that arose after the system went down, including storm damage that closed some runways in Houston, were transmitted to pilots by air traffic controllers, Brown said. The system is also used to notify pilots of malfunctioning navigational aids, missile launches and special traffic management programs, according to the agency's website.
.....