✈️ Axios PM: FAA's ancient computers

Plus: Gravity-defying Dirk | Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Instagram   Axios PM By Mike Allen · Jan 11, 2023 Good Wednesday afternoon! Today's PM — edited by Erica Pandey — is 497 words, a 2-min. read. Thanks to Sheryl Miller for the copy edit. 🏈 Breaking: The Bills announced that Damar Hamlin has been released from a Buffalo hospital after a series of cardiac, neurological and vascular tests. A statement says doctors "are confident that Damar can be safely discharged to continue his rehabilitation at home and with the Bills." Go deeper.     🛫 1 big thing: Ancient flight tech Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios   Thousands of flights were delayed and hundreds more were canceled nationwide today — and the FAA's outmoded pilot-alert system may be to blame, Axios' Herb Scribner reports. The big picture: The FAA relies on ancient computers and infrastructure to run some of its systems. That infrastructure is in need of modernization to handle the current demand, the U.S. Travel Association argues. "America's transportation network desperately needs significant upgrades," USTA president and CEO Geoff Freeman said today. What happened: The FAA says an outage of its Notice to Air Missions System — which sends safety and other important notifications to pilots — led to the delays. The FAA conducted a hard reset overnight when the system crashed. Flights were already in the air at the time, Reuters reports. 7,300+ flights were delayed and at least 1,000 were canceled. The FAA's "ground stop" was lifted at 8:50 a.m. ET. Share this story.     2. 🥇 Cars of the year The Acura Integra, Ford F-150 and Kia EV6. Photos: Acura, Ford, Kia   The Acura Integra, F-150 Lightning and Kia EV6 are this year's North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year winners. Electric vehicles were a hit this year — another signal they're going mainstream, Axios' Joann Muller reports. Two of the three winners — the Ford and the Kia — are EVs.     A message from Instagram Explore 30+ Instagram tools helping teens have positive experiences     Teens' experiences on Instagram should be positive and supportive. That's why we have tools to help teens see less sensitive content and help them spend less time on our platform. Learn more about our tools and set them up with your teen today.     3. Catch up quick Codeword's AI "interns" created their own images and names, Aiko (left) and Aiden. Photos: Codeword   🤖 Meet the AI intern class. Instead of hiring human interns, Codeword, a tech-marketing agency, is leaning on artificial intelligence technology. Go deeper. 🐘 Nassau County GOP officials are calling on embattled Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) to resign after fabricating much of his résumé. Go deeper. 📚 Prince Harry's new memoir, "Spare," became the fastest-selling nonfiction book in U.K. history on its first day. Go deeper. 🐦 House Republicans are asking former Twitter employees to testify at a February hearing on the social media platform's handling of reporting on Hunter Biden. Go deeper.     4. 🏀 Gravity-defying Dirk Photo: Glenn James/NBA via Getty Images   Dallas has unveiled a new statue outside the American Airlines Center — a tribute to former Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki. The very big picture: The 24-foot, 9,000-pound sculpture, designed by artist Omri Amrany, depicts Dirk's signature one-legged fadeaway. And it tilts so much that it looks like it could topple at any moment, Axios Dallas co-author Michael Mooney writes. We asked Fredrick Olness, an SMU physics professor, how that thing stays upright. How it works: A lot of the statue's weight is in the heavy base. So the "center of mass" is also below where the statue's foot meets the base, Olness tells Axios. "The physics principle that keeps the statue standing is the same one often used by magicians to give the illusion of levitation," Olness says.     A message from Instagram Set up supervision with your teen to help support them on Instagram     Parents have support when it comes to keeping their teens safe on Instagram. Here's how: Once supervision on Family Center is set up, parents can see who their teen follows, who follows them and any reports their teen shares. Set up Family Center today.   Are you a fan of this email format? Your essential communications — to staff, clients and other stakeholders — can have the same style. Axios HQ, a powerful platform, will help you do it.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. To stop receiving this newsletter, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: