WASHINGTON – A key US pilot messaging system was experiencing a temporary outage, which could lead to flight delays on Feb 2, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said late on Feb 1.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is working to restore the “Notice to Air Mission”, or Notam, system, Mr Duffy said on X.

“There is currently no impact to the National Airspace System because a backup system is in place,” he said.

“FAA has set up a hotline to communicate with aviation stakeholders and will send notices every 30 minutes with updates on the system’s status,” he added.

Mr Duffy said the FAA “activated its contingency system to supplement and support pre-flight briefings and continue flight operations… We are investigating the root cause and we will provide updates.”

He said passengers should check with their carriers about the status of flights on Feb 2, adding “there may be some residual delays tomorrow morning”.

In January 2023, an outage of the Notam system led to the first nationwide US ground-stop since 2001, disrupting more than 11,000 flights.

The Notam system provides pilots, flight crews and other users of US airspace with critical safety notices. It could include items like taxiway lights being out at an airport, nearby parachute activity or a specific runway being closed for construction.

A Southwest Airlines spokesman said the carrier did not have any measurable delays late on Feb 2, “and we have people and processes in place if the situation continues into tomorrow”.

Delta Air Lines and United Airlines said they were not experiencing problems early on Feb 2.

“All our operations continue as normal right now. We have up-to-date Notam info through backup procedures,” a Delta spokesman said.

The US aviation system has faced a difficult week.

On Jan 29, an American Airlines passenger jet and a military helicopter collided near Reagan Washington National Airport killing 67 people, the first fatal US passenger airline crash since 2009 and the deadliest US air disaster in two decades.

On Jan 31, a medevac plane crashed soon after takeoff in Philadelphia with a child and five others on board. All died as did a person on the ground, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said. REUTERS

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