That Sound You Just Heard Was Continental's Computer Crashing | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-06.02.25

Airborne-NextGen-06.03.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.04.25

Airborne-AffordableFlyers-06.05.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.06.25

Tue, Apr 06, 2004

That Sound You Just Heard Was Continental's Computer Crashing

Hundreds Of Passengers Delayed

In bringing you this story, please allow us to introduce you to a concept that, while expensive, has proved most gratifying here at ANN.

"Percussive maintenance."

That's the kind of work you do on a computer when the computer itself is on the fritz. We strongly believe that, if you hit it with a hammer long enough and hard enough, things will get better. Even if your computer isn't fixed, things will get better.

Perhaps what Continental Airlines needs is a bigger hammer. The company's main computer system crashed Sunday, stranding hundreds of passengers at its Bush Intercontinental hub in Houston (TX) and nationwide.

That was Saturday morning. For the next 36 hours or so, crew members had to calculate their own weight and balance, wind speed and course correction and fuel computations by hand -- something most haven't had to do since they were green young GA pilots.

Passenger Ben Bentzen of Austin (TX) was stuck on board his ground-bound flight to Costa Rica for almost two hours Sunday. After he was finally allowed to deplane, he told a reporter on the telephone, "I see a bunch of unhappy passengers wishing they were taking off now." Ironically, a lot of them had more computing power in their laptops than Continental had at the time.

"We're having to deal with passengers who can't go anywhere," said Bush airport spokesman Ernie DeSoto. Of course, he says nobody told him of any cancellations. The computers were down, remember? "We're putting them in any spot we can." Guess he didn't get the email, huh?

Well, it's all over but the crying now. Continental says it's trying to figure out what caused the computer system to go down in the first place. And a lot of employees who had to deal with a lot of very angry passengers don't ever want to go through that again.

"I've seen thunderstorms that gave us worse operation than that," said Continental spokesman Rahsaan Johnson.

FMI: www.continental.com

Advertisement

More News

Citation Operators Get Another Flight Data Connection for QA

LinxUs System Adds Capabilities for Data-Driven Operators Textron Aviation announced another option for operators processing their post-flight data, adding interoperability with GE>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (06.01.25)

Aero Linx: The de Havilland Moth Club Ltd The de Havilland Moth Club evolved from a belief that an association of owners and operators of Moth aeroplanes should be formed to create>[...]

NTSB Final Report: Bellanca 8GCBC

(Pilot) Inadvertently Applied Excessive Braking Action, And The Airplane Nosed Over Analysis: The pilot reported that, while landing at a remote, rough and uneven airstrip in a tai>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (06.01.25)

“MCADT is committed to rapidly integrating armed first-person view drones into the FMF, enhancing small-unit lethality and providing organic capabilities that warfighters cur>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: High-Speed Match-up - Venom and GE Rebirth A Legend

From 2017 (YouTube Edition): Major Engine Supplier Joins Forces With Small Aircraft Manufacturer… GE recently made an agreement with Venom Aircraft to supply engines for the>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC