Computer glitch delays UK flights
Jumat, 26 September 08 - oleh : admin

LONDON, England (AP) -- -- A computer glitch at Britain's air traffic control center on Thursday led to delays and cancellations across the country, officials said.

Airport operator BAA PLC said flights were still landing and departing at London's Heathrow Airport but that the process was "slower than normal."

British Airways said that all airlines at Heathrow, Gatwick and other airports were suffering delays and that some of its flights had been canceled.

NATS, which provides air traffic control services for planes crisscrossing UK airspace, said the problem occurred at 4 p.m. local time (1500GMT) at one of the systems at its Swanwick Air Traffic Control Center in southern England.

It said its engineers were investigating the cause of the fault and working to restore the system.

NATS En Route said airspace around Scotland and the city of Manchester in northern England was unaffected, but that restrictions on takeoffs and landings were in effect elsewhere.

A series of computer bugs have hit Britain's air traffic control system over the past few years. The opening of the Swanwick center was delayed for months due to computer problems.

NATS is in the midst of a £1 billion ($1.8 billion) investment program intended to renew its radar network. source:www.cnn.com

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