FAA officials investigate air traffic control power outage

Airline Industry Information, July 20, 2006

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

US Federal Aviation Administration officials have said that they are investigating an 80-minute power outage at a radar facility that handles flights in and out of Southern California.

The outage reportedly affected thousands of travellers in the western United States and Canada. According to The Associated Press, the outage at the Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center was reported shortly after 1730 local time on 18 July and it caused a shutdown of all telephone, electrical and radar functions.

A backup generator started shortly before 1900 local time and restored power, according to Allen Kenitzer, a regional spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration.

A total of 221 flights with about 25,000 passengers were delayed, diverted or cancelled at Los Angeles International Airport, according to airport spokeswoman Nancy Castles.

San Diego International Airport spokeswoman Diana Lucero said that all departing flights from the San Diego airport were halted at 1742 local time, but arriving flights were unaffected.

The outage also affected airports in the San Francisco Bay Area as flights were diverted to San Jose International Airport and Oakland International Airport, and some aircraft returned to San Francisco International Airport.

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