The FAA is reportedly planning to transition away from the antiquated floppy disks currently in use amidst U.S. air traffic systems. “This is your pilot speaking. Just one moment, my traffic controller needs to swap out their floppy disk… there we go,” might be a disconcerting announcement for passengers dealing with 20th-century technology.

The agency’s administrator, Chris Rocheleau, emphasized the aim is to fully upgrade the system, eliminating both floppy disks and antiquated paper flight strips used for recording flight data.

Despite not all FAA systems relying on outdated technology, a 2023 FAA assessment revealed that over one-third of air traffic control systems are labeled as unsustainable, which can severely impact safety and efficiency in national airspace.

This initiative is a response not only stemming from within the FAA but also following support from various organizations pushing for modernized changes in aviation technology.