The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has begun replacing systems that rely on floppy disks. It announced the rollout on November 5, 2026. The agency plans to bring the new system to 435 sites by the end of 2028.
The FAA calls its new platform the Enterprise Information Display System (E-IDS). It will bring together data from four systems that date back to the 1980s. Controllers will use it to share flight alerts, airspace restrictions and weather reports from pilots.
FAA floppy disks give way to shared information
The FAA lists three airports among the first sites: Atlantic City, Nashville and Greater Rochester. Data hubs in Atlanta and Salt Lake City complete the initial group. The agency says the shared display should cut repair costs and help controllers find key data faster.
The FAA says the project aims to address two safety issues. These are how staff handle pilot reports and how quickly flight notices reach them. Pilot reports describe weather encountered during a flight, according to the agency. The new system will also link to the FAA’s network for sharing flight data.
What the displays actually do
The Government Accountability Office (GAO), the congressional watchdog, explains what these displays do. They show approach charts, weather and flight notices. Its review lists separate systems that track aircraft and help staff manage flights.
GAO found that older displays, including those using floppy disks, made data hard to find. Staff also had to update them by hand. Its review found several reasons why past upgrades had struggled. For example, these included unclear goals, too little input from users and weak checks on contractors. Funding gaps and overly hopeful estimates also played a part.
Keeping flights running during the upgrade
In addition, GAO found gaps in plans for the wider overhaul in September 2026. These included the lack of a full cost estimate and a joined-up schedule. Separate projects could plan work at the same site without steps to limit the effect on controllers. The watchdog called for both gaps to be fixed; the Transportation Department partly agreed.
However, new equipment also faces risks. Reuters reported reviewing an October 23 FAA memo that urged airports to coordinate construction work with the agency. The memo described a cut fiber-optic cable at Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport on October 13. It disrupted data services and forced a ground stop.
The FAA plans to roll out E-IDS to more sites across the country. Its end-of-2028 target covers 435 sites; work to phase out floppy disks is still underway.
Sources: FAA announcement, FAA E-IDS overview, GAO, Reuters via Investing.com
