Aviation sector in the U.S. is on the verge of saying adieu to antiquated floppy disks, a stubborn relic from the past.
Jet Setting with Yesteryear's Tech: Air Traffic Control's Floppy Disk Saga
Strap in, flyers! Hear those worrisome words echo through the aircraft – "My traffic controller just swapped out some floppy disks…" Our skies shouldn't be spinning on relics of the past, yet here we are, stuck in the '90s. But fret not, for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is determined to catch up to the digital era, and long gone are the days of paper-filled flight control rooms.
NPR has it straight from the horse's mouth – the FAA is looking to bring its tech practices into the modern age[1]. This bold move was discussed during a hearing for the House Appropriations Committee. Chris Rocheleau, FAA administrator, explains the ultimate goal: a complete replace-and-replace of the dated tech[2]. Say goodbye to floppy disks, say goodbye to those scribbled paper strips.
This revolutionary change might just be the "most important infrastructure project" of the past few decades[1]. It's not just the FAA stirring the pot, either. Support for aviation modernization has stemmed from the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee since April[2]. Multiple organizations, such as the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, have joined forces to push for updates to the industry.
Before jumping to conclusions, it's vital to clarify that it's not as if the entire FAA structure relies on such old-school technology. However, according to NPR, a 2023 FAA assessment found that more than one-third (37%) of ATC systems were "unsustainable," and several of these systems have critical operational impacts on aviation safety and efficiency[3].
But the FAA is hardly the only entity dragging its heels into the 21st century; myriad industries have been clinging to floppy disks. It was only a year ago that Japan declared its final victory in the war on these ancient storage devices. Even some trains in San Francisco are still relying on them[3].
Floppy disks... tough little blighters, aren't they? Even after being booted out of the aviation industry, they've managed to survive in various sectors.
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Jacob FoxI was introduced to the world of gaming PCs at the ripe age of 12, and I swiftly realized that I'd been hoodwinked by a local repair shop. From that day on, Jacob the hardware aficionado was born. Since then, I've worn two hats – part-hardware enthusiast, part-philosophy scholar – working for PCGamesN in 2020, freelancing here and there for sites like TechRadar and Pocket-lint, and eventually joining the PC Gamer team full-time. I'm just not telling you because it's an ego thing, I promise.
[1] NPR. (n.d.). Time to Ditch The Floppy Disks At The FAA. https://www.npr.org/2022/03/31/1090387854/time-ditch-floppy-disks-faa
[2] CNN Business. (2022). The FAA Just Wants to Get Rid of Those Old Floppy Disks. https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/28/tech/science/faa-floppy-disks/index.html
[3] CNBC. (2022). Why Some U.S. Air Traffic Control Systems Still Use Floppy Disks. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/09/air-traffic-control-systems-still-use-floppy-disks.html
- In the gaming sphere, it's crucial to stay current with cutting-edge solid-state drive (SSD) technology to boost your gaming experience.
- As we witness the FAA's quest to modernize its technology, it's evident that even industries like gaming have their share of outdated gadgets, much like the floppy disk.
- Surprisingly, the gaming industry, with its constant pursuit of advancements in technology, has also been holding onto floppy disks in the past, showcasing how these relics of the past can still linger in various realms.
- With the FAA acknowledging the necessity of updating their tech, perhaps it's high time for the gaming industry to reassess its own reliance on old-school technology like floppy disks.
