It’s hard to believe it’s almost 2027 and the FAA is still using floppy disks in its air traffic control operations. But it appears that’s finally about to change.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced Thursday that it has begun phasing out floppy disks used in air traffic control operations.
The agency is replacing four outdated systems dating back to the 1980s with what it’s calling the “Enterprise – Information Display System” (E-IDS). The new system is essentially a digital display board that puts important information about equipment issues, air traffic conditions, weather, and other advisories in one convenient place.
“E-IDS gives air traffic controllers the information they need to make timely decisions and keep the flying public safe,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford in a press release. “We’re moving away from outdated, manual processes and replacing technology that once relied on floppy disks with a modern system that allows controllers to instantly share critical flight alerts, restricted airspace schedules and pilot reports across the National Airspace System.”
The first five facilities receiving the upgrades include Atlantic City International Airport, Nashville International Airport and Greater Rochester International Airport, as well as data processing hubs in Atlanta and Salt Lake City. The FAA says it plans to install E-IDSs at 435 sites by the end of 2028.
The rollout is part of a broader effort to modernize the nation’s aging air traffic control infrastructure, which received $12.5 billion in funding through President Trump’s tax and spending bill last year.
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