I was a victim...

[Finance85]

... of the power outage at the Atlanta airport yesterday. Hundreds of flights cancelled. Thousands of people in the dark. Thousands of people circling the airport until they were diverted or allowed to land. Thousands more sitting on planes on the ground.

Luckily for me I only wasted a couple of hours at the Pensacola airport until it was announced all remaining flights were cancelled. I will probably get to work from home this week, so it may be that I'm not really a victim at all.

 

[FSUdawg]

I am curious to know why an airport the size of Hartsfield-Jackson doesn't have enough generator power on a separate grid to power the airport in the case of a major failure like yesterday...especially considering they are dependent upon Georgia Power as their main power source.

 

[RunRonnieRun]

I just figured since we made it through last week's snow relatively unscathed we needed something to put us on the national mockery scale.

 

[LesClaypool]

 

[Finance85]

Apparently there was a fire, and the fire also took out the backup power as well.

I doubt we'll ever know the truth on this one.

 

[LesClaypool]

Apparently there was a fire, and the fire also took out the backup power as well.

I doubt we'll ever know the truth on this one.

...Just like 9/11.

 

[cmanole]

I heard this guy was behind it...

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

I just figured since we made it through last week's snow relatively unscathed we needed something to put us on the national mockery scale.

You're next door to Alabama, I think you're safe.

 

[Dr. Nole]

Maybe the next Die Hard movie?

 

[fsu1jreed]

Apparently there was a fire, and the fire also took out the backup power as well.

I doubt we'll ever know the truth on this one.

I read yesterday that construction workers accidently cut the power line servicing the airport.

Edit: I stand corrected

The outage, which affected all airport operations, started with a fire in a Georgia Power underground electrical facility, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said. The electrical fire's intensity damaged two substations serving the airport, including the airport's "redundant system" that should have provided backup power, Reed said.

 

[FSUdawg]

I read yesterday that construction workers accidently cut the power line servicing the airport.

Edit: I stand corrected

The outage, which affected all airport operations, started with a fire in a Georgia Power underground electrical facility, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said. The electrical fire's intensity damaged two substations serving the airport, including the airport's "redundant system" that should have provided backup power, Reed said.

Sounds to me like a piss poor redundancy plan. A redundant system should be 100% separate so failure of the main system cannot interfere with operation of the redundant system. I am still shocked that the entire redundant system relies on Georgia Power keeping a power feed to the airport.

I realize there is a high cost involved, but onsite generators separate from the main power feeds should be used IMO. This way at a minimum certain operations can continue and passengers can unload from planes safely, and also get out of the building without having to be lead by flashlight.

 

[noleclone2]

I too was a victim. My MIL was suppose to be on a plane flying home yesterday.

 

[LesClaypool]

I too was a victim. My MIL was suppose to be on a plane flying home yesterday.

Ziiiiiiiing!

 

[billanole]

Ziiinngg!

...a lot of improvement!

 

[gunnyhiway]

there's millions of Georgians in the dark every day..

 

[Urban Cryer]

#metoo

 

[Nole-4-Life]

My daughter's flight out of San Diego was cancelled yesterday. She got one today tho.

 

[TennNole17]

So one fire killed the power, and backup power? Solid plan there.

 

[RangerNole]

Sounds to me like a piss poor redundancy plan. A redundant system should be 100% separate so failure of the main system cannot interfere with operation of the redundant system. I am still shocked that the entire redundant system relies on Georgia Power keeping a power feed to the airport.

I realize there is a high cost involved, but onsite generators separate from the main power feeds should be used IMO. This way at a minimum certain operations can continue and passengers can unload from planes safely, and also get out of the building without having to be lead by flashlight.

Yep it is amazing to me how poorly large organizations plan for a crisis. I understand it is costly; but the alternative is much more costly.