European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 14, 1995, Darmstadt, Hesse Thursday september 14, 1995 the stars and stripes Page 9 radar failure s Chicago a flights across the country were temporarily halted after the main computer at the Federal aviation administration s Midwest air traffic control Center failed again tuesday. Air traffic controllers say two planes flew too close to each other because of the was the sixth major computer break Down m the past year to disrupt air traffic in the six state Region where up to 9,500 flights a Day Are controlled by the Faa s air traffic Center in suburban Aurora. Until the primary computer was re stored the Region was put on a backup computer that lacks an alarm to Alert controllers when planes get too close to one another. Dennis Burke the Center s air traffic manager said the close Call occurred an estimated 30 to 40 Miles East of my Floirie at 8 22 ., when an alarm went off on an american Eagle plane bound to o Hare International Airport from Des Moines Ipava. ,.- / " the Pilot realizing another plane must be too close contacted an Aurora con troller who verified that a private twin engine plane was Only 700 feet above Andy i Miles away from the american Eagle which promptly descended. Planes Are supposed to keep five Miles apart laterally and 1,000 feet vertically. Ron Downen local vice president for the National air traffic controllers association criticized the Lack of an alarm on the backup system your margin of error without that is Zero he said. But Faa regional spokesman Don Zub chert said the controller still could have seen the planes location on his computer screen. Air traffic control specialist Dave Cottingham acknowledged that the information is available but said a controller being human cannot control and see All situations at one asked if he would put his family on a plane under the circumstances Cotting Sharii said he would to adding i be got a perfectly Good Faa administrator David Hinson said in Washington that technicians in Aurora believe they have corrected the primary computer s problem but would continue operating on the backup until tuesday night. Technicians were planning to com plete the switch Back to the Mam system before Dawn wednesday. Chicago bound flights were grounded at airports across the country for about 40 minutes beginning around 9 24 Tuesday while controllers dealt with the computer problems said Lisa Howard spokeswoman for the City aviation department. Flights at o Hare were delayed up to 45 minutes at one Point by evening the Airport was basically Back to Normal. Zochert said the problems began after the main computer underwent a scheduled shutdown about 10 . Monday for troubleshooting. At 6 Tuesday technicians tried to bring it Back on line but it did not function properly so they remained on the backup system. At 9 1.1 ., the backup computer s flight data portion failed for about 20 minutes though the radar portion kept functioning. The result was More manual work for controllers. What happens if the course you need in t offered this term no problem with City colleges of Chicago vote courses you can take College courses whenever and wherever it is convenient for you. See your Chicago Field representative today City colleges of Chicago Quality education. Anytime anywhere some Sites May have a limited selection Usa eur to with special guest featuring Miller brewing company reminds you to please party dates saturday 16 september Hohenfels saturday-23 september Mim concert 21 october bad Durkheim Salie Halle cau0637m4408 tip Crow win tickets to s1ktrcaclbrs 28 september 95 for info Call 0637 .44408 sign up for Home delivery convenience today if you live in a government or government leased housing area then you can enjoy the convenience of having the stars and stripes delivered to your mail Box every Day and it won t Cost you a Penny More than the newsstand Price. Start your subscription today by calling the toll free customer service number for the country you re stationed in. You la find them on our letters to the editor Page
