Multiple air traffic control alerts force nationwide flight slowdowns

"The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued flow control alerts, citing equipment problems affecting multiple control centers. The FAA is slowing the flow of air traffic, known as metering flights, to prevent congestion and accidents while engineers work to fix the equipment problems. Some flights could be delayed by more than five hours, while others may face only a few minutes. Major US hubs, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, Atlanta and Miami, have been listed as being impacted."

"The alerts, labeled FCAGD1 and FCAGD3, cover nearly all flights from the surface up to 60,000 feet, affecting both domestic and international routes until at least 7:59pm ET. FCAGD1 is causing the longest delays, averaging more than two hours, while FCAGD3 is less severe, with most delays lasting only a few minutes and a maximum of 15 minutes. The FCAGD1 alert imposes heavy restrictions, allowing as few as five to 17 flights per hour."

The Federal Aviation Administration activated flow control alerts after equipment problems affected multiple control centers, prompting metering of flights to prevent congestion and accidents. Alerts FCAGD1 and FCAGD3 cover nearly all flights from the surface to 60,000 feet and affect domestic and international routes through at least 7:59pm ET. FCAGD1 is causing the longest delays, averaging over two hours and permitting as few as five to 17 flights per hour; FCAGD3 is milder with mostly short delays. Airlines including Delta, American, and United report major scheduling disruptions as flights are rerouted or held while UDP and DAS manage traffic.

Read at Mail Online