http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/b...0926-story.html

 

A fire response at the radar facility in Aurora has grounded all flights in and out of O’Hare and Midway Airports this morning.

This is going to destroy a lot of travel plans, not just out of ORD and MDW, but all over the country.

This is going to destroy a lot of travel plans, not just out of ORD and MDW, but all over the country.

 

One of my employees just retired after 35 years and is supposed to fly to Florida today for a cruise. I hope her plane wasn't coming from Chicago first.

This is going to destroy a lot of travel plans, not just out of ORD and MDW, but all over the country.

 

It will make my mom's day at work (airline customer service agent) a living hell.

Breaking News @BreakingNews · 1h

Police: Man with self-inflicted non-gunshot wound found in basement of FAA facility in Aurora, Ill. - @chicagotribune http://trib.in/1v8Cil4

 

Breaking News Travel @breakingtravel · 1m

Update: FAA says no planes in the US destined to cross Midwest can depart until at least 10 am CT - @chicagotribune http://www.breakingnews.com/t/V29

Breaking News @BreakingNews · 1h

Police: Man with self-inflicted non-gunshot wound found in basement of FAA facility in Aurora, Ill. - @chicagotribune http://trib.in/1v8Cil4

 

Breaking News Travel @breakingtravel · 1m

Update: FAA says no planes in the US destined to cross Midwest can depart until at least 10 am CT - @chicagotribune http://www.breakingnews.com/t/V29

 

I have to admit, this is a brilliant act of terrorism, domestic or otherwise. One facility can literally screw up travel all over the entire nation.

Breaking News @BreakingNews · 1h

Police: Man with self-inflicted non-gunshot wound found in basement of FAA facility in Aurora, Ill. - @chicagotribune http://trib.in/1v8Cil4

 

Breaking News Travel @breakingtravel · 1m

Update: FAA says no planes in the US destined to cross Midwest can depart until at least 10 am CT - @chicagotribune http://www.breakingnews.com/t/V29

 

Really, really want to know more about that bolded part.

It will make my mom's day at work (airline customer service agent) a living hell.

 

Yeah, the longer this goes, the exponentially worse it is.

Really, really want to know more about that bolded part.

 

non-gunshot suicide attempt I would say. Cut wrists come to mind.

How is there not a back-up system for this type of event? Why can't another FAA office or Ohare's tower direct flights?

 

 

How is there not a back-up system for this type of event? Why can't another FAA office or Ohare's tower direct flights?

 

I am sure there is, but in a situation with a strange suicide variable, they probably want to make sure everything is on the up and up before they start sending planes again

 

If it was just like an electrical fire or something like that, they probably would have switched to backup and been on their way

My guess is that this is the main long-range radar for the entire Midwest. O'Hare, Midway, etc. would have (relatively) short-range radar that's meant for handling arriving and departing traffic, not tracking the area over several states.

 

edit: from the Tribune article:

 

The Aurora radar facility, called Chicago Center, is an en route air-traffic facility that handles high-altitude traffic across parts of the Midwest.

 

The other FAA facilities probably don't have access to the same radar information, and even if they do, those ATC's probably aren't familiar with the regular Midwest routes and how the planes are guided. You couldn't just have O'Hare or Midway controllers take over because their hands a full already with inbound/outbound, and plus you run into the same training/familiarity issues. Could you imagine the s***storm if they switched to ATC's unfamiliar with these routes and an accident or even a near-incident happened?

Edited September 26, 201411 yr by StrangeSox

This may be a conspiracy theory but what if this was the plan the whole time?

This may be a conspiracy theory but what if this was the plan the whole time?

 

Inconveniencing a whole bunch of travelers just doesn't seem like the kind of thing ISIS or Al Qaeda or anybody else would waste effort planning.

Inconveniencing a whole bunch of travelers just doesn't seem like the kind of thing ISIS or Al Qaeda or anybody else would waste effort planning.

 

Yeah, really this will probably not be any worse than the delays from a bad snow storm. Especially this last winter, there was something screwing up air traffic in a major way at least twice a week.

This may be a conspiracy theory but what if this was the plan the whole time?

 

I'm sure it was a part of the suicide attempt. Just like when people jump off a bridge onto the interstate. They want some attention and what better way than to create a traffic jam.

My guess is that this is the main long-range radar for the entire Midwest. O'Hare, Midway, etc. would have (relatively) short-range radar that's meant for handling arriving and departing traffic, not tracking the area over several states.

 

edit: from the Tribune article:

 

 

 

The other FAA facilities probably don't have access to the same radar information, and even if they do, those ATC's probably aren't familiar with the regular Midwest routes and how the planes are guided. You couldn't just have O'Hare or Midway controllers take over because their hands a full already with inbound/outbound, and plus you run into the same training/familiarity issues. Could you imagine the s***storm if they switched to ATC's unfamiliar with these routes and an accident or even a near-incident happened?

 

According to my buddy I work with who is a trained and licensed pilot, there are only six of these facilities in the entire US, and they are responsible for all air traffic from 10k feet all of the way up to outer space. This is an entire level above regular air traffic control.

 

 

CBS Evening News ‏@CBSEveningNews 6m

 

MORE: Officials tell CBS a fire at the Chicago air traffic control facility appears to be a suicide attempt by a disgruntled employee.

Sun-Times Breaking ‏@CSTbreaking 19m

 

UPDATE: FAA says flights resuming at "reduced rate," Chicago-bound flights already in the air are being allowed to continue or rerouted

UPDATE: Southwest Airlines confirms no flights out of Midway Airport until at least 7 p.m.

 

LATEST UPDATES--->>> http://go.wgntv.com/1rog5g8

Just walked through our ORD rental lot, I've never seen Mannheim rd so empty. Eerily quiet.

WGN TV

2 mins ·

 

FAA FACILITY FIRE UPDATE: ATF source says a disgruntled contractor was upset because he was being transferred to Hawaii. He went down to the transmission lines in the basement, wrapped them in rags and soaked the rags in gasoline.

 

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS--->>> http://go.wgntv.com/1rog5g8

WGN TV

2 mins ·

 

FAA FACILITY FIRE UPDATE: ATF source says a disgruntled contractor was upset because he was being transferred to Hawaii. He went down to the transmission lines in the basement, wrapped them in rags and soaked the rags in gasoline.

 

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS--->>> http://go.wgntv.com/1rog5g8

 

How awful for him, being forced into an all-expenses paid transfer to Hawaii just before winter arrives in Chicago.

How awful for him, being forced into an all-expenses paid transfer to Hawaii just before winter arrives in Chicago.

 

This is all Obama's fault. Somehow.