The Federal Aviation Administration says flights departing for Los Angeles International Airport were halted briefly due to a staffing shortage at a Southern California air traffic facility.
There are small, untowered airports, but they usually aren’t equipped for large jets, or for IFR landings (“instrument flight rules,” which is when the pilot relies on instrumentation instead of visually looking outside, such as during inclement weather.)
Small planes depending on VFR (visual flight rules) can probably plan flights to avoid towered airports. But the big commercial flights will be in trouble.
Jets can fly VFR as well, if needed, in towered airspace. There are a reason jets fly IFR nearly all the time, but if the choice is between the flight not happening, and landing VFR, they’ll choose the VFR landing any time weather permits. You’re just going to end up with a lot more delayed or diverted flights
The ones I am talking about have small jets or those turboprop planes for commercial service. And of course private small planes. I’ve seen a tower, but I guess it could be empty.
There are small, untowered airports, but they usually aren’t equipped for large jets, or for IFR landings (“instrument flight rules,” which is when the pilot relies on instrumentation instead of visually looking outside, such as during inclement weather.)
Small planes depending on VFR (visual flight rules) can probably plan flights to avoid towered airports. But the big commercial flights will be in trouble.
Jets can fly VFR as well, if needed, in towered airspace. There are a reason jets fly IFR nearly all the time, but if the choice is between the flight not happening, and landing VFR, they’ll choose the VFR landing any time weather permits. You’re just going to end up with a lot more delayed or diverted flights
The ones I am talking about have small jets or those turboprop planes for commercial service. And of course private small planes. I’ve seen a tower, but I guess it could be empty.