France is asking airlines to cancel up to 16,000 flights to Paris airports as it upgrades its air traffic control system. This will take place in January and February of next year.
That's about 20% of all flights.
The country is leaving it up to the airlines to decide which flights will go. It is expected that long haul flights will be safe with the cancelations coming from short and medium haul ones.
The Caen airport at Carpiquet also will be closed in the early part of 2024 for construction work, from 11 March to 18 April.
I wonder if this has any relationship to the expected heavy traffic for dignitaries visiting for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day débarquement.
I wonder if this has any relationship to the expected heavy traffic for dignitaries visiting for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day débarquement
Probably. Just as I have to wonder if the upgrade of the air traffic control system has something to do with the Paris Olympics next year.
Just as I have to wonder if the upgrade of the air traffic control
system has something to do with the Paris Olympics next year.
In January and February the new 4-FLIGHT system will be in testing (and training) phase for air traffic controllers who manage the northern half of France (including CDG and Orly airports). The complete switchover is not expected before fall 2024.
So, no relation with the Olympic games which end on August 11.
What is really disturbing is one of the articles I read about this (heck, it may be the one linked above) mentioned that they need to do this because in some instances in France, some air traffic is still tracked with paper slips ??!!!!!!!!
some air traffic is still tracked with paper slips
Not paper slips, but Paper Flight Strips.
The word "slip" in French means “Underpants” , which are rarely made of paper.
And I can't imagine seeing air traffic controllers controlling flights by moving underpants :-))
You are franglaising, Jolui. It happens to the best of us...and the worst of us.
It's like "commanding an entree from the menu" and we don't have a clue which language we are speaking.
FYI: Kim was writing in English where slips of paper could be used for strips of paper.
Sorry Bets, it was imagining flight passengers who don't know that controllers are manipulating underwear to get them to the right destination. :-))
That being said, it is still the term Strip which is used by air traffic controllers, even when it's in digital form.
Well I am glad I gave you a good visual in your mind's eye JoLui!!
