Why the FAA System Failure Stopped Air Traffic

Flights across the United States were grounded on Jan. 11 following a failure of the crucial Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system run by the Federal Aviation Administration. File photo from June 1, 2022. Mike Segar/Reuters

The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM), made headlines early on Jan. 11 when the system went down, causing a nationwide grounding of flights in the United States.

The NOTAM system provides pilots and other aviation professionals with information about potential hazards or disruptions to flight operations. NOTAMs are used to communicate information about things like closed runways, airspace restrictions, and out-of-service navigation aids.