This Redundant Aviation Safety Net Helps Keep Planes Safe when Controllers Lose Contact
- Air traffic controllers at Newark International Airport lost radar and radio communications briefly on April 28 and May 9, disrupting flights there.
- The communication loss occurred after the main radar signal line from New York failed and the backup failed to work immediately, causing controller visibility loss of planes.
- These outages forced Newark's terminal control team to reduce flight handoffs, causing hundreds of cancellations and delays that impacted airlines nationwide.
- Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau emphasized on social media that safety is maintained through various backup systems and restrictions on flight volumes, while former investigator Jeff Guzzetti acknowledged a slight increase in risk that remains minimal thanks to built-in redundancies within the aviation system.
- Despite the rare failures exposing some outdated systems, aviation procedures and additional equipment trained for communication losses help maintain safety margins during such disruptions.
31 Articles
31 Articles
United Airlines pilot of 30+ years says there was only one time he lost communication—here's why he said the emergency wasn't 'that big of a deal'
It was alarming news when air traffic controllers directing planes coming and going around one of the nation’s busiest airports repeatedly lost their radar and radio communications, but pilots, independent air safety experts and the Federal Aviation Administration say other redundant systems kept planes from colliding. “I think the risk of a collision or an incident was increased, but not significantly because of the redundancy in the aviation s…
This Redundant Aviation Safety Net Helps Keep Planes Safe When Controllers Lose Contact
It was alarming news when air traffic controllers directing planes coming and going around one of the nation’s busiest airports repeatedly lost their radar and radio communications, but pilots, independent air safety experts and the Federal Aviation Administration say other redundant systems kept planes from colliding. Join our WhatsApp group Subscribe to our Daily Roundup […]

This redundant aviation safety net helps keep planes safe when controllers lose contact
News that air traffic controllers directing planes into New Jersey’s busiest airport twice lost both their radar and radios is alarming.
Uganda Launches National Committee To Tackle Wildlife Threats To Aviation Safety
By Spy Uganda In a landmark move to enhance aviation safety, Uganda has officially launched the National Committee on Wildlife Hazard Management, a specialized body tasked with tackling the growing threat of wildlife—particularly bird strikes—at the country’s aerodromes. The committee was inaugurated on Wednesday, May 22, 2025, at the Four Points by Sheraton in Kampala,…
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