FAA issues ground stop for all DC-area airports due to equipment fire

https://www.fox5dc.com/news/faa-issues-ground-stop-for-all-dc-area-airports-due-to-equipment-fire-federal-avaiation-administration-dca-iad-bwi-ric

by mikequinlan • 3 years ago

110 62 3 years ago

fox5dc.com

jaybrendansmith• 3 years ago

This explains my flight cancellation at least. Yikes.

smitty1110• 3 years ago

That explains why it was so quiet. Can we get another fire next weekend, I enjoyed the lack of IAD traffic flying a few hundred feet overhead.

But yeah, there's understandably no chill in this area with regards to airspace monitoring. An errant drone merits an investigation around here, I'm sure when the radar went out people were freaking out.

mlyle• 3 years ago

But yeah, there's understandably no chill in this area with regards to airspace monitoring.

This is beyond security concerns-- radar makes things a whole lot safer and greatly lowers ATC workload. A ground stop pretty much immediately lowers workload and enables more manual oversight of the flights that are already in the area.

mertd• 3 years ago

The absence of the constant background hum during the most strict phase of pandemic shelter in place was something else. I don't wish to re experience it under those circumstances but it certainly gave me a new perspective on noise pollution.

hanslovsky2• 3 years ago

we bought a home during the pandemic. there was some noise then, but it is a lot more now. Even the single one home without noise that we saw now has noise pollution, too. Gotta move out really far to get away from the noise

vonnik• 3 years ago

Just landed in DC. In the air, the pilot told us it was an air traffic control malfunction. Circled for 30 min. Other planes diverted to Pittsburgh. Dulles, Reagan and Baltimore affected.

letmeflyhome4• 3 years ago

Currently stuck in the airport, flight rebooked two weeks out with the incredibly generous option for a refund. No compensation or covering of hotels or car rental as the delay was "uncontrollable".

I don't live here and not really sure what to do. Other flights seem to be leaving just fine.

scrapcode• 3 years ago

Two weeks until the next flight? Is your destination somewhere you could drive?

letmeflyhome4• 3 years ago

It's a 10 hour drive give or take, but the challenge would be in returning the car.

Also the agencies I've searched understandably do not allow one-way trips that go beyond national norders.

speakfreely• 3 years ago

Try to get a train ticket to Philadelphia (airport code PHL) or Newark, NJ (airport code EWR) and fly out from there. I'm sure lots of other people have the same idea but it's worth a shot. If Amtrak train isn't an option, there's also https://us.megabus.com/ which may be more affordable and have more availability.

ericbarrett• 3 years ago

I like Megabus etc. and have voluntarily used them for shorter hops. Slower obviously, but it's more relaxed than a plane, the seats are comfier, and your cell phone will work the whole way.

qazxcvbnmlp• 3 years ago

- this happens from time to time. Your situation is bad, but not unique. Other examples include: weather on Christmas Eve.

First step is get food / water, whatever you need to feel grounded. If you are calm, the agent who can help you will be calm and calm agents can work wonders. If you are angry, upset, frustrated, hungry, tired (all responsible responses to the situation) the agent will turn into a robot and not go out of their way to help you.

If you want to fly out; find a more senior agent (can be hard to do in a bigger airport). Don’t ask for one directly, instead look for the subtle signs: confident but slightly less put together clothing, someone dressed as a manager - but who is doing customer service, someone who is helping other agents, etc.

Then it’s a two step process:

1) ask them to put you on a standby list on a flight to get out of the airport, doesn’t matter where, just a pick a hub closer to your destination than the current one. It will take a couple tries, but at every flight, show up to the gate and stay until the door is closed and the airplane is pushed back. If you don’t make it, ask to be rolled over to the next one. Especially in weird situations there is constantly a couple people that do not show.

2) once you get to the other hub, kindly ask them to rebook you the rest of the way home.

eyelidlessness3• 3 years ago

the agent who can help you will be calm and calm agents can work wonders. If you are angry, upset, frustrated, hungry, tired (all responsible responses to the situation) the agent will turn into a robot and not go out of their way to help you.

Somewhat contrary perspective: the last time I was stuck in an airport indefinitely, everyone insisted everyone else stay put for indefinite lengths of time, because the delayed flight would leave “as soon as possible”. After several hours of this, I angrily insisted that it isn’t reasonable to keep people at a terminal hanging on indefinitely and that we’d all be better off if everyone could agree to reconvene at the next estimated arrival. A bunch of other passengers emphatically agreed, and the airline staff agreed then too. Then everyone went and had their food and drinks and whatever, and no one was angry anymore when the flight finally boarded.

olalonde• 3 years ago

If you are calm, the agent who can help you will be calm and calm agents can work wonders. If you are angry, upset, frustrated, hungry, tired (all responsible responses to the situation) the agent will turn into a robot and not go out of their way to help you.

While I understand the rationale behind the calm approach, it doesn't completely align with my personal experiences. Initially, one might try to adopt a composed demeanor, but if the situation calls for it, projecting your genuine concern, frustration, and urgency can actually serve as a catalyst to motivate the staff to address your situation more effectively.

lumost• 3 years ago

Airline is obliged to cover hotel/food if you booked round trip with them. They don’t advertise this fact for obvious reasons.

Go the ticket counter and talk to the person about hotel.

ericpauley• 3 years ago

Isn’t this only true if the delay is the airline’s fault? It’s certainly not the case for, e.g., weather. The airline will/did argue the cancellation is outside their control.

CPLX• 3 years ago

For the most part this is incorrect for US domestic flights.

lxgr• 3 years ago

That's definitely not true for all cancellation reasons in the US.

After a cancellation due to bad weather, I was once given the option of a pretty ridiculous connection (5 hours cross-continent in the wrong direction before proceeding towards my destination) and getting a hotel at my own expense (the airline did give me a 10% off voucher though!) and flying on the next day.

nodamage• 3 years ago

If you paid for the flight with a credit card check if they offer any sort of trip delay coverage.

killingtime74• 3 years ago

Travel insurance

fotta• 3 years ago

According to the FAA, air traffic was impacted due to a fire at Potomac Consolidated Terminal RADAR Approach Control (TRACON).

…

Earlier reports claimed a fire at Potomac Consolidated Terminal RADAR Approach Control (TRACON) impacted air traffic, but an FAA representative told FOX 5 there was no fire.

Was there a fire or not?!

bombcar3• 3 years ago

Looks like I found where that Iraqi information minister is working now.

Scoundreller2• 3 years ago

Maybe no fire but a release of the magic black smoke?

cratermoon• 3 years ago

FlightAware's MiseryMap shows that about 2 hours ago DC had 205 delayed and 46 cancelled flights.

firstlink• 3 years ago

Currently this page reads:

According to the FAA, air traffic was impacted due to a fire at Potomac Consolidated Terminal RADAR Approach Control (TRACON).
Earlier reports claimed a fire at Potomac Consolidated Terminal RADAR Approach Control (TRACON) impacted air traffic, but an FAA representative told FOX 5 there was no fire.

Well?

interestica2• 3 years ago

If you're ever in DC and want a great view of incoming planes for DCA/Reagan Int'l, get to Gravelly Point.

[Map](https://maps.app.goo.gl/q2tU5nd7wDB8X5ko7?g_st=ic)

[The View](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CsedKJtgoG8/?igshid=MzRlODBiN...)

EForEndeavour• 3 years ago

Why is the Instagram reel mirrored horizontally, cutting the frame in half? Doesn't that totally ruin the video, or am I missing something? Power to anyone to edit and upload anything, but what were they trying to achieve by getting such a great video angle only to mostly hide the airliner from view?

interestica2• 3 years ago

Artistic license? Showing how symmetrical an incoming overhead plane is? And it's a rare view. It's an artistic medium over there which uses photos as the starting point.

hanslovsky2• 3 years ago

yes, it's great, my son loves it.

if you're stranded at IAD check out the nearby Udvar-Hazy Center (air & space).

https://airandspace.si.edu/visit/udvar-hazy-center

IG_Semmelweiss• 3 years ago

If you are scheduled to fly in the next few hours domestically in the US, or foreign inbound to US airports like JFK, MIA, BOS, DFW etc

DONT

It is a massive cluster ** now.

Twin storms in Northeast, FL panhandle, and hurricane advisories all over TX and TN. Now DC doesnt want to be left behind with their own bizarro calamity claim.

Crew are steanded at random airports and no one is taking off.

Storms will continue for the next 3 THREE days.

Do yourself a favor, call your airline, and ask them to change your flight to next week ASAP.

Your mind will thank you later.

gundmc• 3 years ago

Do yourself a favor, call your airline, and ask them to change your flight to next week ASAP.

I'm not sure I've ever been traveling for any reason where I have the flexibility to shift my trip by a full week on short notice.

filoleg• 3 years ago

The assumption here was that your trip will shift by a full week regardless, with the only difference being you spending that time at home vs being stranded at the airport or a layover location.

ilyt• 3 years ago

...how's that related to HN ?

1MachineElf• 3 years ago

I have never seen BWI airport as busy as it was last night, an hour before midnight. Approaching the airport to pick someone up, the past about 50 cars on the shoulder of the road that were just waiting with their hazard lights on. Traffic to the arrivals area was slow as molasses. I'm told the terminals themselves are packed with people whose flights were delayed to 1AM, 2AM, etc.

FAA issues ground stop for all DC-area airports due to equipment fire

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