The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is moving to phase out 3.5-inch floppy disks used in parts of air traffic control. Multiple outlets report that the plan is part of a broader effort to replace outdated technology with a newer digital system.
The timeframe described across coverage points to completion by 2028. One report also frames the decision as a long-overdue modernization, noting that the agency is still running “critical pieces of American airspace” on magnetic floppy disks in 2026, and says Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the effort.
While all sources focus on the replacement of floppy disks in air traffic control, they differ slightly in emphasis. Some lead with the basic modernization step, while others highlight how late the change is and connect the move directly to a new digital system, rather than only to administrative or internal updates.
