FAA beams data to travelers

The Federal Aviation Administration announced a new electronic service Thursday that enables travelers with pagers, cell phones or personal digital assistants to receive real-time airport status information via e-mail.

Users can register for the free Aviation Information System service at the FAA's Web site. The real-time flight status site was launched in April 2000 as part of the FAA's Spring/Summer 2000 plan to help travelers get better information about weather-related delays.

The site gives users specific information about airport status and why, where and when a delay is occurring and whether it will impact them, according to an FAA statement. On April 16, the FAA increased the number of airports on the site from 39 to 298, the FAA officials said. Color codes reflect the type and severity of delay. The site is also offered in a text-only version.