London airspace closed after computer failure

[scooterscot]

The old hardware despite being reliable also holds some blame. I recall a case of a network card processing raw RADAR data which would be sent to another machine for mapping. It worked fine in the 70's and 80's. However we noticed a failure when RAW data increased because of more aircraft, more to track. The network card bandwidth was exceed so it ignored raw data and tracks were intermittent. Of course we couldn't jus replace it with a modern equivalent because of what it was interfacing into.

Seen a few software failures but often it is the result of the specification changing in the hardware world rather than the software failing.

The long and short of it all is this is what you get when you don't invest. A sheetstorm.

[darmstadt]

What they use is an out of date IBM mainframe, the S/390 series running a modified version of the OS. I would suspect that it was a software failure as this hardware is 24/7 and has proven pretty reliable. I came across a similar system some years ago at the a.n.other countries air security system which had the same problems as the UK one has, they have modified the OS and software but the modifications can't be implemented in the newer versions of the OS which are required to run on the newer hardware. Actually, they probably could but it takes time and money which they don't have. I was at a.n.other to provide them a system that would run on newer hardware but with the old OS and system changes albeit under emulation. Luckily they got their fingers out and got to work and got it all running on recent kit.






(* I also came across the same problem with AWACS and submarines, NASA also had similar systems, oh, and an unnamed European countries post office apparently)

[scooterscot]

UK flights chaos: Air traffic control computers using software from the 1960s - Telegraph

Or what Zeity would call modern...

Obsolescence is a big a problem for them these days. End of life buys are no longer possible, and in some cases it's not possible to repair equipment in this country because the old equipment uses materials that are now illegal in the UK! NATS is like a ground based version of Concorde, old tech and very expensive to maintain.

[BrilloPad]

UK flights chaos: Air traffic control computers using software from the 1960s - Telegraph

Or what Zeity would call modern...

[MarillionFan]

Suittttttttttyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!

[Uncle Albert]

Sounds like MilanBenes has dug out the backup tape and loaded it up.

[scooterscot]

The age of the equipment at Swannick pre-dates my existence especially that at West Drayton. Fook me it's scary. I recall quizzing and the standard response was 'if it works don't fix it'....

[AJ1982]

Hmmm, so todays issues at Swannick...

A loud bang heard one evening a week or two ago.

Jets scrambled, causing sonic booms a while ago coz of an unresponsive planes.

RUSSIANS!!!

[scooterscot]

Have they recently outsourced?

How did you know?!?

NATS in line for £9m savings from cloud outsourcing


The UK’s foremost air traffic controller, NATS, is expecting to deliver savings of up to £9 million over the next four years as it transfers all desktop IT services to the cloud.

The move is expected to reduce the company’s environmental impact as well as enhance flexibility amongst the 6,000 strong workforce.

Research frequently points to the benefits of outsourcing to the cloud, though currently businesses in the UK have apparently been slower to outsource to the cloud than their rivals in the EU and the USA.

[BrilloPad]

Have they recently outsourced?

[Batcher]

Someone in a hurry to get to the CUK Xmas party pressed the emergency shutdown button instead of the door release

[scooterscot]

Okay, which one of you was it?

They should have used OS X, but no...

BBC News - London airspace closed after computer failure

London airspace closed after computer failure
Breaking news
London airspace has been closed until 19:00 GMT after a computer failure, air traffic controllers have said.