Microsoft software implicated in air traffic shutdown Rupert Goodwins ZDNet UK September 17, 2004, 17:25 BST http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/windows/0,39020396,39167074,00.htm A three-hour system shutdown that affected South California's airports was reportedly caused by a technician who failed to reboot an MS-based system
A bug in a Microsoft system compounded by human error was ultimately responsible for a three-hour radio breakdown that left hundreds of aircraft aloft without guidance on Tuesday, according to a report in the LA Times. Nearly all of Southern California's airports were shut down, and five incidents where aircraft broke separation guidelines were reported. In one case, a pilot had to take evasive action. The newspaper said that a Microsoft-based replacement for an older Unix system needed to be reset every thirty days 'to prevent data overload', as a result of problems found when the system was first rolled out. However, a technician failed to perform the reset at the right time, and an internal clock within the system subsequently shut it down. A back-up system also failed. Richard Riggs, an advisor to the technicians union, said the FAA � the American aviation regulator -- had been planning to fix the program for some time. "They should have done it before they fielded the system," he said. To prevent a reoccurrence of the problem before the software glitch is fixed, Laura Brown, an FAA spokeswoman, said the agency plans to install a system that would issue a warning well before shutdown. Microsoft UK was not immediately able to comment. LA Times Report (reg. Req'd) http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-faa16sep16,1,3729661.story " The VSCS system was built for the FAA by Harris Corp. of Melbourne, Fla., at a cost of more than $1.5 billion. When the system was upgraded about a year ago, the original computers were replaced by Dell computers using Microsoft software. Baggett said the Microsoft software contained an internal clock designed to shut the system down after 49.7 days to prevent it from becoming overloaded with data." -- You are a subscribed member of the infowarrior list. Visit www.infowarrior.org for list information or to unsubscribe. This message may be redistributed freely in its entirety. Any and all copyrights appearing in list messages are maintained by their respective owners.
