Air Traffic Control Communications Blackout in Denver

SOURCE www.npr.org
Air traffic controllers in Denver experienced a communications blackout for about two minutes due to radio transmitter failures. Emergency procedures were followed, and aircraft remained safe. The FAA is investigating the incident.

Key Points

  • Loss of radio frequencies led to a two-minute communications blackout
  • Controllers switched to a backup frequency and then to 121.5 MHz emergency frequency
  • FAA is investigating the incident and faces scrutiny due to multiple recent failures

Pros

  • Emergency procedures were followed, ensuring the safety of aircraft and passengers
  • Controllers were able to establish communication with pilots through alternative frequencies

Cons

  • The outage raises concerns about the overall safety and reliability of air traffic control systems
  • Ongoing issues and outages in other airports point to systemic problems within the FAA