Air travel chaos and Real ID deadline is here

This morning, new insight into the safety concerns at busy Newark airport as flight delays and cancellations drag on for a tenth day. We are now hearing pilots as they tried to reach air traffic controllers during a system outage last week which left controllers unable to see, hear, or speak with planes in the air for more than one minute. Approach you there. When communications came back up, controllers could not see the planes on radar. We don't have a radar, so I don't know where you are. Senator Chuck Schumer claims the outage may have been caused by a burnt copper wire, pointing to the systems antiquated equipment, but the FAA not confirming that. One former air traffic controller who worked in the region claims most controllers have quote no faith in their equipment. Not being able to track the position of an aircraft that is moving in excess of 200 miles an hour across the skies is very difficult. Another factor behind the communication issues, a decision to move operations for Newark's airspace from New York to Philadelphia. Radar and communication failures at the airport were reported multiple times last year as well. The FAA now bringing in supervisors from other areas, but that's not an easy fix. They'll need training for this extra complicated airspace. I think they've bungled the roll out of Real ID. They could have done it better. Another issue today that could delay travelers nationwide, a new requirement to have a Real ID license or identification to fly. People have had plenty of time to uh get prepared for it. So, uh don't object to it. For those who haven't switched yet, you can still use your old ID to fly, but you'll be diverted to a different line to face extra security. That requirement takes effect today, 20 years after Congress passed the Real ID Act to streamline stateisssued IDs. Passports though are an acceptable alternative. Lionel Moyes, ABC News, New York.