The FAA says it’s now fixed a problem with an antenna at Boston’s Logan International that forced controllers to use a backup system requiring increased spacing between airliners, thus reducing capacity by about half for a couple of days. Furious local officials demanded an investigation into what they said was a slow federal response to the problems but the FAA’s Laura Brown said everything that could be done, was done. “Our technicians were out working on this in bad weather ’round the clock,” she told The Boston Globe. An antenna that had earlier tested fine was replaced with one scavenged from Bangor, Maine, and all the ghost returns that were cluttering screens disappeared. Boston officials are now demanding the backup system be as good as the main one to prevent a repeat of the cancelled flights, upset passengers and the toll on business. “It’s been a tough couple of days for our customers,” said Craig Coy, CEO of the Massachusetts Port Authority.
…FAA Says It’s Doing Its Best…
Key Takeaways:
- An antenna problem at Boston Logan International Airport forced controllers to use a backup system, halving airport capacity for several days.
- The disruption led to flight cancellations, passenger inconvenience, and criticism from local officials regarding the FAA's response time.
- The FAA fixed the issue by replacing the faulty antenna with one from Bangor, Maine, eliminating "ghost returns" on screens.
- Boston officials are now demanding that the airport's backup system be upgraded to match the main system's capabilities to prevent future disruptions.
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