Does it need an internet connection?

Yes — it reads a live source, so it needs a connection to update.

Yes — free, no download, in your browser.

What is the difference between a ground stop and a ground delay?

A ground stop holds flights bound for an airport at their departure points for the duration of the stop. A ground delay program instead gives flights controlled departure times, and they may not leave before them.

Why does the reason text look like code?

Aviation notices use standard abbreviations and compact formats written for pilots and dispatchers, and the saver shows them close to how they were published.

FAA Ground Stops Screensaver

The FAA Ground Stops screensaver shows real active ground stops, ground delay programmes and airport closures across US airspace, from the FAA's own public status feed. An empty board means everything is running normally. It's free, runs in your browser, and ESC exits.

How the FAA Ground Stops screensaver works

The background pipeline reads this from FAA and saves a snapshot the saver loads.

Real active ground stops, ground delay programmes and airport closures across US airspace, from the FAA's own public status feed.

It refreshes on a schedule, so what you see stays current.

Colours and the accent can be changed in settings; nothing is stored beyond your own browser.

Ground stops, ground delays and closures

The Federal Aviation Administration manages air traffic flow across US airspace and publishes a public status feed of the traffic management programmes in effect. The saver reads that feed, which groups items under headings such as ground stops, ground delay programs and airport closures.

The terms mean different things. The FAA describes a ground stop as holding flights bound for an affected airport at their departure points for the duration of the stop; it is typically used for short-term excess demand, to buy time before a longer-term fix, or when the airport’s acceptance rate falls to zero. A ground delay program is used when demand is expected to exceed an airport’s acceptance rate for a lengthy period; flights receive controlled departure times and may not leave before them. An airport closure is listed with a reason that is usually written in compact aviation abbreviations.

Many closures are routine, such as planned runway work, so a long list does not indicate a crisis. The feed is a snapshot, and entries are added and removed as conditions change. Reasons are written for aviation professionals and are shown close to how they were published. For a particular flight, the airline and the FAA’s own pages are the right source.

A worked example

Real active ground stops, ground delay programmes and airport closures across US airspace, from the FAA's own public status feed. An empty board means everything is running normally.

Settings & tips

Accent and Background recolour the display.
Run automation/run.py faagroundstops to refresh the feed.
Press ESC to leave fullscreen.

Frequently asked questions

Is this real data?: Yes — it comes from FAA and is refreshed on a schedule.
Is a key needed?: No. This source is fully key-less.
Does it need an internet connection?: Yes — it reads a live source, so it needs a connection to update.
Is it free?: Yes — free, no download, in your browser.
What is the difference between a ground stop and a ground delay?: A ground stop holds flights bound for an airport at their departure points for the duration of the stop. A ground delay program instead gives flights controlled departure times, and they may not leave before them.
Why does the reason text look like code?: Aviation notices use standard abbreviations and compact formats written for pilots and dispatchers, and the saver shows them close to how they were published.

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