Denver Radar
May 19, 2004

Radar Failure snarls DIA Flights

Denver International Airport was having serious delays in arrivals and departures Tuesday evening due to a radar failure at the Federal Aviation Administration. The computerized radar system went out about 6 PM. By 7 PM the FAA had switched to a back-up radar, allowing slower-than-normal take-offs and departures. The radar that failed is called ARTS, or Automated Radar Terminal System. It provides air traffic controllers with the location of each flight, its speed, altitude and identification approaching and leaving DIA.