The FAA isn't alone in clinging to floppy disk technology. San Francisco's train control system still runs on DOS loaded from ...

When you update your computer or phone, it becomes unusable for the short while it's doing so. That's not an option for ATC, which has to be running 24/7 with no loss of coverage.

Most air traffic control towers and facilities across the US currently operate with technology that seems frozen in the 20th century, although that isn't necessarily a bad thing—when it works ...

And some flight data is still routed through a computer with a Windows 95 operating system — updated via floppy disk, said Nick Daniels, president of NATCA. “Most Americans have more computing power ...

Although floppy disks are still used by different industries, including some music labels with unique marketing campaigns, the days of this antiquated technology are numbered. Some industries are ...

Electronics Hardware old school floppy disk FAA finally replacing floppy disks and Windows 95 in air traffic control systems Better late than never By Rob Thubron June 8, 2025 at 8:33 AM 27 comments ...

The FAA will no longer use Windows 95 for air traffic control. Floppy disks, another tech relic, will also be canned—something that should have happened a long time ago, one would think.

"No more floppy disks or paper strips." It's a goal that has eluded all of Rocheleau's predecessors. Walking into many of the nation's air traffic control towers is like stepping back in time.