A serious incident sounded the alarm last week, reported by all the major US media. Visit New York Times reported that at the Philadelphia air traffic control centre, which coordinates flights north of the US east coast, employees panicked. They lost track of approaching aircraft at Newark-Liberty on their control radars. While their contact radio transmitters remained silent.
The failure lasted just 30 seconds, but it could have had dramatic consequences for dozens of aircraft on approach or taking off at the time around the New York hub. The incident, which occurred on 28 April, resulted in the cancellation and delay of several thousand flights in Newark.reports the American daily.
United Airlines takes a stand
This is not the first incident to affect the operation of Newark airport, second international airport hub after JFK in New York. The repeated failures of technology are well known. Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines, the main airline using the airporton 2 May sent an official message to its passengers: " For many years, United has been vocal about the need to repair the air traffic control system at Newark [...] In recent days, on several occasions, the technology on which FAA air traffic controllers depend to manage aircraft entering and leaving Newark Airport has failed, resulting in dozens of flights diverted, hundreds delayed or cancelled and, worse still, thousands of customers whose travel plans have been disrupted. Unfortunately, the technological problems have been compounded by the fact that more than 20 % FAA controllers assigned to Newark airport have resigned. "
" Let's not forget, added the Chairman of Untied, that this air traffic control centre has been chronically understaffed for years and that, without these controllers, it is now obvious - and the FAA tells us so - that Newark airport will not be able to handle the number of aircraft expected in the coming weeks and months" . United has therefore taken the initiative and reduced its flight schedule at this hub, which is particularly important internationally. United Airlines connects 76 US cities with 81 international destinations. Of which two daily flights to Paris CDG as well as daily flights to Brussels and Geneva.
" We unilaterally cancel 35 return flights per day of our Newark programme. It is disappointing to have to make further cuts to an already reduced programme at Newark, but as there is no way to solve the FAA's structural staffing problems in the short term, we feel there is no other choice to protect our customers, describes Scott Kirby. For years, United has been urging the US government to use its authority to effectively limit the number of flights that the airport can reasonably accommodate." .
FAA slows air traffic around Newark
The FAA acknowledged that that it was operating with a control system that had become obsolete. The FAA management, in coordination with the Secretary of State for Transport Sean DuffyThey immediately took a number of decisions. The FAA has decided to slow down arrivals and departures at Newark Liberty International Airport. Other emergency measures have also been put in place to reinforce the permanent surveillance of air traffic control :
- The addition of three new broadband telecommunications connections between the FAA's STARS system, based in New York, and the control centre in Philadelphia. This will improve speed, reliability and redundancy. At the same time, the FAA will be using upgraded fibre optics with greater bandwidth and speed.
- Deployment of a temporary back-up system at the centre of Philadelphia.
- Setting up a STARS system directly at the Philadelphia control centre.
- Increasing the number of controllers. The FAA is currently training 21 new controllers, which will double the workforce in Philadelphia.
In the event of airspace saturation at Newark, the FAA will regulate the number of flights authorised. It will inform the public of this on its website, which can be consulted by passengers who have chosen Newark as their destination. This real-time information can be found under www.fly.faa.gov. Business travellers are therefore advised to check that their flights are not affected by FAA traffic-calming measures. Because, in addition to the daily United Airlines services mentioned above, Newark is also served daily from Orly by The Company and French Bee. WhileAir France operates one flight a day from CDG. And Swiss from Zurich.
