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FAA Glitch Delays More Than 40 Arrivals, Departures At TIA

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By RUSSELL RAY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 26, 2008

Updated: 08/26/2008 06:26 pm

TAMPA - Computer problems that are preventing airlines from filing flight plans have contributed to nearly 24 arrival delays and about 20 departure delays at Tampa International Airport tonight.

"A couple of the airlines have called our local air traffic control tower to let them know that their pilots are not able to file their flight plans for their arrivals into Tampa," spokeswoman Brenda Geoghagan said.

Geoghagan suggested travelers with flights scheduled for this evening call their airline to see whether they expect delays.

The Federal Aviation Administration says a communications failure at a Georgia facility that processes flight plans for the eastern half of the United States is causing flight delays across the country.

FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen says there are no safety issues and officials are able to speak with pilots on planes, on the ground and in the air.

She did not know how many flights are being affected.

Bergen says the problem that occurred this afternoon involves an FAA facility in Hampton, Ga., south of Atlanta, that processes flight plans. She says there has been a failure in a communications link that transmits the data to a similar facility in Salt Lake City.

As a result, the Salt Lake City facility has to process those flight plans, causing delays.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Reporter Russell Ray can be reached at (813) 259-7870 or rray@tampatrib.com.

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