NEWS FROM...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WHEATON, MD--October 11, 1996. Yesterday morning's failure of the Federal Aviation Administration's weather dissemination and flight plan processing computer network has prompted a national organization to call on the FAA to take immediate steps to replace the old system with a new one already on the drawing boards. The National Association of Air Traffic Specialists (NAATS) is asking the FAA to move forward on a long-delayed program to replace the dated equipment. NAATS is the organization representing FAA's flight service controller workforce.
At 5:20 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on the morning of October 10, the FAA's antiquated Model 1 Full Capacity (M1FC) computer system experienced a nationwide failure. The M1FC system is the basis for the operation of the nation's flight service system. It includes computer systems at 61 facilities, linked to a national data base. Initial reports indicated that the system, designed in the late 1970's and incorporating monochrome video terminals linked by slow telecommunications equipment, suffered total failure following a routine database update. As a result, none of the nation's 61 Automated Flight Service Stations (AFSS's) were able to provide weather data, navigation facility status and notice to airman (NOTAM) information to thousands of pilots across the country. In turn, the flights planned by these pilots were either delayed and/or forced to operate with incomplete aeronautical information.
One user in particular merits mention. At approximately 7:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, a crewmember of Air Force Two - the official aircraft of the Vice President of the United States - called the AFSS in St. Petersburg, FL to file a flight plan from St. Petersburg to Knoxville, TN. The Vice President was preparing to depart St. Petersburg after his debate with GOP nominee Jack Kemp the night before. Because the M1FC system was inoperative, special handling was required to process this flight plan.
NAATS President Michael McAnaw stated he was on duty at Seattle, WA's AFSS that morning. "It put me back to 1978, tearing paper off the teletype." He later contacted Ron Morgan, FAA's director of the Air Traffic Service, demanding an immediate explanation for the failure. In his conversation, McAnaw reiterated NAATS' support for the new OASIS program, designed to replace the antiquated M1FC system and bring the Flight Service network into the 21st century with the latest available computer and communications technology. While Congress has appropriated funds for this critical project, the FAA has yet to formally announce that the program will proceed. FAA's delays on OASIS come even after the agency in April, 1996 designated it one of three procurements to receive expedited treatment under new, streamlined acquisition procedures.
NAATS Executive Director Gary Simms noted in an interview with industry newsletter Aviation Daily that approval for OASIS may be given at an FAA procurement meeting currently scheduled for December 16. He added that "OASIS seems to be a poster child for the FAA's new procurement authority, and we are getting every indication that the FAA wants to make this a winner."
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Our Address:
NAATS 11303 Amherst Avenue Suite 4 Wheaton, MD 20902 301/933-6228 301/933-3902 fax Walter W. Pike, Chief Executive Officer
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