Flights disrupted after computer failure at UK control centre

bbc.co.uk

63 points·ilghiro··10 comments

Problem has now been resolved and airspace is reopening slowly: https://twitter.com/NATSPressOffice/status/54343249977989529...

Been stuck on the runway for 3 hours. Next in line to leave to Copenhagen.

UPDATE: Missed my connection. All good! Got upgraded to business and put on another flight. Every cloud....:)

I would imagine being an air traffic controller right now would be very stressful. London Heathrow is one of the busiest airports in the world, Gatwick is also pretty popular as well. Having to reroute planes out of London to alternative airports throughout Europe must be one hell of a task. But having said that, I bet every major airport in the world has a plan B for this kind of thing.

Add in London Stansted, London City and London Luton and you've got a very busy controller!

Don't forget London Oxford Airport!

http://forums.theregister.co.uk/forum/2/2014/12/12/all_londo...

Allegedly UPS failure.

Semi-misleading title.

LON airspace was closed due to a failure (unconfirmed as power) at the Swansick facility [1]. Hence, the EU regulators have required them shut the airspace.

1: http://www.nats.aero/news/swanwick-technical-failure/

That's another reason why I'd never want to fly to USA via London. I prefer all the middle east airlines.

Stop downvoting me unnecessarily. I am stating my reasoning of avoiding London airport, and it makes reasonable sense. Similar thing has happened to London ATC before, as per the video report in the article, where a new upgrade to the software disrupted flights last year. Together with all the Iceland volcanoes etc., my reasons to avoid this airport are all legitimate.

Even if you have other choices, you don't need to downvote me.

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