I'll bet they don't use floppy disks like everyone is thinking
Posted on 02/20/2025 2:19:41 PM PST by DFG
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has pushed for a massive upgrade of the Federal Aviation Administration, claiming their computer system still uses 'floppy discs.'
As the nation is reeling from recent plane crashes, Duffy sounded the alarm on the antiquated FAA claiming there are systems in the network 'that are run on floppy discs.'
'The systems that we use are so old. I need the Congress to move faster with us. We can't wait four years, six years, 10 years. We have to do it right now,' Duffy told CBS News.
Donald Trump's Administration has set its sights on replacing the nation's entire air traffic control system following a spate of plane crashes.
Passengers aboard a regional American Airlines flight were warned to 'brace for impact', after the jet reported an emergency onboard on Thursday.
The jet, which was operating as their regional carrier American Eagle, had been travelling from Jacksonville, Florida, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The jet managed to touch down just before 10am, with one passenger taking to X saying: 'Brake issues so we were braced for emergency brakes potentially worse. Spirits are high now!
'Shout out Captain and crew for for having everyone prepped though, turned out to feel like a smooth landing.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
I’ve got a Zip drive I am willing to donate to them for an upgrade….
***************************************************
Still have DOS 3.3 on 3.5 and 5.25 floppies.
Had a system at work that uses 8 inch hard-sectored floppies. Found a place that had some and I cleaned them out. Slush fund reimbursed me.
Had another one that used digital mag tape cassettes (look like audio cassettes).
Keeping that stuff running was an adventure.
I'll bet they don't use floppy disks like everyone is thinking
The 8” or 5” floppies
I have a pack of 5 1/4 unopened.
Highest bidder.
And when you need to share something, just fling it across the room like a Frisbee.
Please document your claim.
Damn!... where do you even buy those???
Geez, better off using GPS.
COBOL? How many old guys do they keep on payroll to maintain that?
Musk and his SpaceX team could probably rewrite and install a new program within a week if given the freedom to do so.
“Flight 123, please circle airport at least 3 more times while we load the ground navigation floppy”
That isn't old school. Old school floppies are 8".
Two packs with mine thrown in.
It was not a big secret. The press has been ‘sounding the alarm’ on the antiquated ATC system for years now.
‘floppy discs.’
Putting quotes around it just makes me feel older. I guess I’ll comfort myself by reading a ‘book’ or watching ‘television’.
We need a couple hundred people like the Doge boys start working on our computer systems.
“’that are run on floppy discs.’”
Huh? I know of no OS which will run on a floppy disc.
What? Not using an E6b? Totally reliable since ww2. Code? I still use cw and it works. Some flashy gizmo that few know the ins and outs is potentially dangerous. I had copilots that were totally spatial and geographically clueless. Had no idea how we managed to arrive at point b after launching from pt a. Just follow that line on the screen. Could take them to south Timbuktu and why is that sunrise in the west? Dumber and dumber.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.