Telephone weaknesses well known: air traffic controllers' communications called vulnerable in '89 study

Article Abstract:

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had known that its dependence on one telephone circuit to carry communications for the air traffic control system for the New York City area was a critical weak point. A safety and efficiency review done in 1989 indicated a strong need for backup contingency systems. Telecommunications support was called the most significant factor for maintaining air traffic control. On Tuesday, Sep 17, 1991, when AT&T's network serving the New York City area suffered an outage, the truth of this assertion was validated. Air traffic control in the region stopped. AT&T says it plans to install multiple communications links so that a future outage will result in little or no disruption of services.

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Telephone weaknesses well known: air traffic controllers' communications called vulnerable in '89 study

Article Abstract:

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had known that its dependence on one telephone circuit to carry communications for the air traffic control system for the New York City area was a critical weak point. A safety and efficiency review done in 1989 indicated a strong need for backup contingency systems. Telecommunications support was called the most significant factor for maintaining air traffic control. On Tuesday, Sep 17, 1991, when AT&T's network serving the New York City area suffered an outage, the truth of this assertion was validated. Air traffic control in the region stopped. AT&T says it plans to install multiple communications links so that a future outage will result in little or no disruption of services.

New York, New York, New York

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F.A.A. to be able to ask bids on air control phone system

Article Abstract:

Two federal agencies - the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the General Services Administration (GSA) - agree that the FAA will be allowed to ask for bids from long-distance phone companies for a network that will serve the nation's air traffic controllers. The FAA had argued that its phone needs were unique, but the GSA has said that the FAA should not lease telephone services independently, but should do as other federal agencies do. Sen Alphonse D'Amato (R-NY), who has pressed for a resolution, says that the agencies' deliberations were speeded by the disruption of telephone services in the New York City area, in the week of Sep 16, 1991. The outage of telephone services severely affected air traffic.

General government, not elsewhere classified, Telecommunications services industry, Telecommunications industry, Political activity, Telephone companies, Contracts, Science and technology policy, United States. General Services Administration, Government Agency, Telephone Company, D'Amato, Alfonse M.

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