US Air Traffic Control System: From Floppy Disks to the 21st Century

The FAA is embarking on an ambitious project to modernize the US air traffic control (ATC) system, currently reliant on outdated technology like floppy disks and Windows 95. This poses significant security and efficiency risks. The upgrade, described as a critical infrastructure project, faces challenges including ensuring continuous operation and system security. While a four-year completion timeline is targeted, experts deem this unrealistic. The project's cost remains unclear, but the FAA is seeking proposals from companies to tackle this massive undertaking.