Floppy disks. Photo Shutterstock The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is replacing outdated technology that still relies on floppy disks as part of a nationwide modernization of America's air traffic control system.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced on Thursday, November 5, that the agency is introducing a new digital platform, known as the Enterprise Information Display System (E-IDS), which will replace four aging systems dating back to the 1980s. The technology is currently used across more than 400 FAA facilities.
The new system is designed to give air traffic controllers faster access to essential operational information through a single, secure platform. It will consolidate data that was previously handled through separate systems, reduce maintenance costs and limit the need for manual workarounds.
The first five locations scheduled to receive E-IDS upgrades are Atlantic City International Airport, Nashville International Airport and Greater Rochester International Airport, as well as FAA data processing hubs in Atlanta and Salt Lake City.
The FAA plans to install the system at 435 sites across the United States by the end of 2028.
"Good news America: floppy disks are out, 21st century tech is in," Duffy said, describing the project as another step toward delivering a new air traffic control system under President Donald Trump.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the technology would help controllers make faster decisions by providing immediate access to important flight information and alerts.
E-IDS will display a range of operational updates, including equipment problems, air traffic conditions, weather-related disruptions and safety advisories. It will also improve the collection and distribution of Pilot Reports (PIREPs), which provide firsthand accounts of weather conditions from pilots, and Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs), which communicate important information about flight operations and potential hazards.
The modernization is part of the FAA's broader Brand New Air Traffic Control System initiative, which aims to replace aging infrastructure across the national airspace network.
The agency says other upgrades are already underway. So far, it has replaced 69% of its copper wiring, installed Surface Awareness Initiative systems at 143 airport towers, transitioned 26 towers to electronic flight strips and installed 226 IP Voice Switches.
The E-IDS rollout represents another step in the effort to update technology that has supported U.S. air traffic operations for decades.