$1.2 Trillion Later, and Air Traffic Control is Still Using Floppy Disks
by James Hickman
on June 18, 2025
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In 1988, a Professor of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico named Joseph Tainter published a book called The Collapse of Complex Societies.
Now, “collapse” is a strong word that conjures images of apocalyptic scenarios… Mad Max or Hunger Games drama. But that’s not what Tainter intended.
He uses the term ‘collapse’ in its academic, anthropological meaning, i.e. a breakdown of strength and order in society. In fact Tainter’s entire career has been devoted to investigating how large, sophisticated civilizations throughout history ultimately “collapsed”.
I first read Tainter’s book more than 15 years ago. And, even though it is a work of anthropology, it is, in my opinion, one of the best books on economic history ever produced.
From the Roman Empire to the Mayan people, Tainter explores how civilizations are born, grow, peak, and decay… and how, more often than not, the decay phase is a direct result of failed government or leadership.
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Floppy disks were removable storage technology that were prevalent in home computers in the 1980s… sort of like a USB memory stick, only MUCH slower and with a fraction of the storage capacity.
A typical 3.5” floppy disk could only hold 1.44 megabytes of data, i.e. not even enough to store even a single photo from your mobile phone’s camera.
Yet this is the technology that America’s air traffic controllers still have to use… because the Transportation Department thought it was a better idea to spend billions of dollars on a handful of electric vehicle charging stations.
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ATC (Air Traffic Control) is a national disgrace. Time to privatize this essential function.
Real simple. The airlines use it every day. They should run it. Bet the infrastructure would be state of the art. Matching the plane’s controls.
Transition to the private function would be easy — you fly in the USA airspace then you get to buy in.
Same with th airports! You use, you pay, and you get a share of the decision making. The more you pay the bigger your vote.
I bet the airplane manufacturers and the drone makers would want to buy in too. Anything to escape the politicians and bureaucrats meddling in technical decisions!
Since the current system is on the verge of “collapse”, why not try something “radical”? The free market solution!
#privatizetheFAA #endtheFAA
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