FAA plans to retire floppy disks at 400-plus air traffic sites by 2028

The FAA also uses the disks to handle reports about equipment issues, among other information. Floppy disks have largely fallen out of use, and Sony, the last major manufacturer, stopped producing them in 2011.

The planned change is part of a broader effort to modernize the agency’s technology. Reuters reported that FAA telecommunications systems still run on “decades-old Compaq computers,” with replacement parts purchased on eBay.

Congress approved $12.5 billion last year to address outdated U.S. air traffic control systems. The U.S. Department of Transportation is seeking a further $30 billion for additional upgrades.