LAX ATC systems failure

[markis10]

Causing havoc:

Jason Rabinowitz ‏@AirlineFlyer 21m
Here's a @PlaneFinder map of flights inbound to @flyLAXairport. Lots of circling & diversions thousands of miles away pic.twitter.com/qsKFriSIJJ

LAX Airport ‏@flyLAXairport 47m
Arrivals continue to be accepted but departures are being held on ground. No ETA on when it will be lifted. Contact FAA/airlines for details

 

[zainman]

Is there any sort of backup system for ATC markis10? What actually happened here anyway?

 

[markis10]

Is there any sort of backup system for ATC markis10? What actually happened here anyway?

There are backup systems in most cases, reverting to procedural control which is essentially timings with a much higher tolerance.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procedural_control

Not sure what happened but it is one of the effects of being more reliant on computers etc.

 

[RooFlyer]

The southern-most trace (with blue part by LAX and at the far right, at the turn) ... appears to have left LAX, then the one trace becomes two as paths diverge after turning back to LAX, then they too are circling.

Markis10, just out of interest - this looks like 2 go-arounds? Maybe on close approach when the ATC 'went down', headed east to re-group, then joined the 'holds' ? Could the blue trace over DFW indicate they went low, as if to land there, but changed mind?

 

[markis10]

Markis10, just out of interest - this looks like 2 go-arounds? Maybe on close approach when the ATC 'went down', headed east to re-group, then joined the 'holds' ? Could the blue trace over DFW indicate they went low, as if to land there, but changed mind?

I dont think its go-rounds, looks like they decided to divert and then mid divert go told they could go to LAX. Or they did a slap and dash (fuel top up).

 

[gaz0303]

This appears to be a follow up on the cause of failure - BBC News - Spy plane causes air traffic chaos, says FAA

 

[markis10]

This appears to be a follow up on the cause of failure - BBC News - Spy plane causes air traffic chaos, says FAA

Dumb computer, what more can I say!