South Bend airport sees minimal impact as flights begin to take off again after FAA outage
A computer glitch at the Federal Aviation Administration delayed airline traffic across much of the nation early Wednesday, and the agency said it was working to restore the system.
All U.S. departures had been paused since about 7:30 a.m. ET, but the FAA said in a tweet just before 9 a.m. that the nationwide pause (known as a ground stop) was lifted and that "Normal air traffic operations are resuming gradually across the U.S."
More than 3,700flights within, into, or out of the United States were delayed just before 8:30 a.m. ET, according to the tracking website FlightAware, and nearly 600 flights in the country were canceled.With 19,621 flights scheduled within, into and out of the U.S. on Monday, and no departures permitted until at least 9 a.m. ET, that number is almost certain to rise.
A spokeswoman for South Bend International Airport said three morning flights out of South Bend were impacted and that travelers should check in with their airlines before flying.
"The FAA has ordered airlines to pause all domestic departures until 9 a.m. ET to allow the agency to validate the integrity of flight and safety information by fully restoring the Notice to Air Missions system following an outage. Travelers should check their flight status with the airline they are flying on," said Julie Curtis, the airport's vice president of marketing.
United Airlines said in a statement that it had "temporarily delayed all domestic flights and will issue an update when we learn more from the FAA."
Southwest Airlines said it was closely "monitoring a data issue with the FAA" that may impact operations. It urged travelers to check flight status.
Airlines for America, the trade group that represents major U.S. airlines, urged travelers to check with their carrier throughout the day.
"For real time updates related to any potential delays or cancellations caused by the FAA’s system disruptions, travelers should download their airline's app, visit the carrier’s website and ensure their contact information is accurate on travel records," the group said.
The FAA said it was working to fully restore the affected Notice to Air Mission (NOTAM) system, which provides pilots with safety information for the nation's airports.
"While some functions are beginning to come back on line, National Airspace System operations remain limited," the agency said in a tweet.
Did the FAA shut down flights?
Not exactly. The NOTAM system provides pilots with crucial safety information for every flight, and the FAA temporarily grounded new departures while it addresses the outage.
For now, most airlines seem to expect to run more or less their full schedules for the day, though many flights are likely to be delayed once departures are allowed again.
The FAA is working to restore its Notice to Air Missions System. We are performing final validation checks and reloading the system now.
Operations across the National Airspace System are affected.
We will provide frequent updates as we make progress.— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) January 11, 2023
The White House weighs in
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed early Wednesday that President Joe Biden had been briefed by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on the situation.
"There is no evidence of a cyberattack at this point, but the President directed DOT to conduct a full investigation into the causes. The FAA will provide regular updates," Jean-Pierre said on Twitter.
What is the Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system?
A Notice to Air Missions is a notice that provides pilots and other flight personnel with real-time, safety information concerning flight operations and airports.
NOTAMs list potential hazards and conditions that can change flights – from runway construction or possible icing to a change in an aeronautical facility or flight service.
Pilots are required to consult NOTAMs before starting every flight.
The FAA notes that a NOTAM “states the abnormal status of a component of the National Airspace System (NAS) – not the normal status.” The federal agency adds that NOTAMs are “not known far enough in advance to be publicized by other means.”
The NOTAM system was telephone-based in the past, with pilots calling flight service stations for the information, but it has now moved online.
Wednesday’s NOTAM system outage will likely lead to widespread disruption – as all aircraft are required to route through the system, including both commercial and military flights.
— Wyatte Grantham-Philips, USA TODAY. The Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: FAA outage live updates: Flights delayed, grounded over computer issue
