Rare nationwide ground stop ordered at airports over communication issues: FAA

Well that explains why I didn't hear or see any air traffic in my AO today.

Usually I see a couple Cessna or other small craft going about or helicopters, but nothing today. Which is odd.

Well this could get interesting. I'm currently in Minnesota spending time with my brother who was recently diagnosed with ALS. I'm scheduled to fly back to Maine on Sunday and am supposed to be back at work on Monday. 

Quote from: majorhavoc on November 13, 2026, 04:51:48 PMWell this could get interesting. I'm currently in Minnesota spending time with my brother who was recently diagnosed with ALS. I'm scheduled to fly back to Maine on Sunday and am supposed to be back at work on Monday.

So, you're saying it's time I took another road trip?
 

Quote from: NT2C on November 13, 2026, 05:25:05 PM

Quote from: majorhavoc on November 13, 2026, 04:51:48 PMWell this could get interesting. I'm currently in Minnesota spending time with my brother who was recently diagnosed with ALS. I'm scheduled to fly back to Maine on Sunday and am supposed to be back at work on Monday.

So, you're saying it's time I took another road trip?
 

Operation: Rescue MajorHavoc ?

I don't think there's anything in my get home bag that's gonna help with this one ... even if I had it with me. Which I don't...

Quote from: majorhavoc on November 13, 2026, 06:37:46 PMI don't think there's anything in my get home bag that's gonna help with this one ... even if I had it with me. Which I don't...

Ooooo... move to "Prep Fail"?

The ground stop was supposedly lifted hours ago now, but there still isn't anything taking off or landing at RIC. I don't see anything on local news to explain that.

Quote from: Anianna on <strong>Yesterday</strong> at 12:49:33 AM
Quote from: Anianna on <strong>Yesterday</strong> at 12:49:33 AMThe ground stop was supposedly lifted hours ago now, but there still isn't anything taking off or landing at RIC. I don't see anything on local news to explain that.

NWS has been experiencing "regional difficulties".  That could be part of it.

Quote from: NT2C on &lt;strong&gt;Yesterday&lt;/strong&gt; at 12:12:21 AM
Quote from: NT2C on <strong>Yesterday</strong> at 12:12:21 AM

Quote from: majorhavoc on November 13, 2026, 06:37:46 PMI don't think there's anything in my get home bag that's gonna help with this one ... even if I had it with me. Which I don't...

Ooooo... move to "Prep Fail"?

Ha! Not only would my actual GHB be completely impractical to bring on a commercial airliner, TSA would never allow it and I won't elaborate further on that second point. Plus, my GHB is designed to sustain me on an overland trek of no more than about 50 miles, not a journey across half a continent, lol.

But this experience does contain the kernel of a good prepping discussion - what contingencies can one realistically prepare for when traveling domestically by air?

I got lucky on this trip.*  The FAA ground stop was lifted before my return flights and it didn't occur while I was at my departure (or worse, connecting) airport. Still, here's an honest list of what I brought that can be considered "prepping":

Carry on bag**:
Planned trip was 4 days, so I packed 5 days worth of clothes and toiletries (including an extra day of my prescription meds).
Extra warm clothing, including wool pullover.

Personal item (hiking daypack with (empty - to get thru TSA) hydration bladder):
Change of socks, underwear and tshirt.
Mini toiletry kit (travel size versions of the essential items in the main toiletry kit, including 3 more days of Rx meds)
USB wall charger + charging cords
USB powerbank (fully charged the night before travel)
Goretex shell parka, gloves, and hat
Snacks (Kind and Clif bars, hard candies fruit - although to be honest I ate most of that en route)
Empty water bottle (filled after getting through TSA)
Extra set of car & house keys

On person:
Fleece vest
Hiking boots
keychain USB flashlight
keychain "peanut" lighter
keychain eyeglasses screwdriver
keychain telescoping pen

*I'm not out of the woods yet. Ripple effects of the FAA ground stop are expected to continue into Sunday when I'm scheduced to fly home.

**Whether it's a checked bag or just a carry on, I never assume my main bag won't somehow get separated from me. This weekend was a good case in point. The regional jets I flew on were too small to accommodate roll on bags so every single passenger was required to "valet check" (a euphemism if I ever heard one) their carry ons at the bottom of the jet way. We could only bring aboard our one personal item. Some of the passengers impacted by Friday's stoppage were already aboard their aircraft and on the tarmac.  They had to deplane without their checked bags. Had that happened to me, I would have been separated from my valet checked carry on.