Chicago air traffic delayed by phone line problems

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) briefly delayed departures Monday for flights headed to O’Hare or Midway from Canada and Midwestern airports because of problems with several phone lines between the Chicago Terminal Radar Approach Control facility in Elgin, Ill., and the FAA’s adjoining en route centers. The FAA resolved the problem and lifted the delay restrictions at 5:50 p.m., EDT, 43 minutes after they were put in place.

Over the weekend, FAA technical teams working on restoring telecommunications systems at the FAA’s Chicago En Route Center in Aurora, Ill., removed all of the equipment and cabling that was damaged in the Sept. 26 fire at the facility. Cleaning crews removed the remaining soot and debris from the area. The FAA teams on site are continuing work to connect the new and existing equipment and test it to ensure all systems are running properly.

FAA removes remaining fire-damaged equipment at Aurora facility

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) technical teams expect to complete the removal of all remaining fire-damaged equipment and cabling from the Chicago En Route Center in Aurora, Ill., by Monday morning. Meanwhile, replacement equipment continues to be installed and tested, the FAA reported Sunday.

FAA air traffic controllers continued to handle high volumes of traffic into and out of Chicago-area airports this weekend. The number of arrivals and departures at O'Hare were more than 90 percent of the two-month average for a Saturday, while total operations at Midway reached more than 95 percent.

The weather forecast for Monday calls for a chance of rain showers in Chicago, which could affect arrival and departure rates into both major airports.

Chicago-area air traffic slowly returning to normal following fire

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is continuing to manage high levels of air traffic in and out of the Chicago-area airports Tuesday. FAA analysis shows by 2 p.m. EDT, almost 80 percent of the average Tuesday traffic for the past two months was flying in and out of O’Hare, and about 85 percent at Midway. Data for Monday shows air traffic flow at Chicago O'Hare and Midway was more than 85 percent of the average traffic for the past two months.

“The FAA will continue to safely maximize efficiency of the airspace and work closely with airlines to provide predictability in arrival and departure rates,” the agency said in a press statement. “The FAA is closely monitoring the weather outlook in the Chicago area and is working with the airlines on weather-related contingency plans in anticipation of predicted thunderstorms in the region over the next several days."

Meanwhile, technicians are working around the clock at the FAA’s Chicago En Route Center in Aurora, Ill., to finish cleaning the facility’s ventilation system and other smoke-damaged areas and to install new communications equipment, cabling, and the infrastructure to support it.

“Workers have completed a seismic protection grid in the new telecommunications room and have started to install cabinets known as 'racks' that house the new equipment,” the FAA said.

Chicago's best companies to work for

Being named a Chicago's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For, is a designation that hundreds of companies pursue. This year, the 2012 winners proved to be companies that deliver exceptional human resources practices and an impressive commitment to their employees.

The National Association for Business Resources selected only 101 companies that best represent the most innovative human resource programs to date. The winning companies will be honored at the Chicago's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For symposium and awards luncheon on Aug. 20 at the Double Tree Hotel in Oak Brook.

Of the hundreds of nominations received, the companies listed below met the criteria as a "Best and Brightest Company to Work For"

• ADP
• Advanced Group
• American Academy of Pediatrics
• Armstrong Aerospace, Inc.
• Arrow Strategies, LLC
• ArrrowStream
• Assurance
• BDO USA, LLP
• Bel Brands USA
• BGT Partners
• Blue Plate
• Blue, Inc.
• Bosch Rexroth Corp.
• Burwood Group, Inc.
• Care Communications, Inc.
• Centro Media Inc.
• Clarity Consulting Inc.
• Comcast Corp.
• Community Counseling Centers of Chicago
• ContextMedia Inc.
• Conway MacKenzie, Inc.
• DentalPlans.com
• Donlen Corp.
• EMKAY Inc
• Enesco, LLC
• Ernst & Young
• Flexco
• FONA International, Inc.
• Geneca
• Genesis Technologies
• Getty Images
• Ghafari Associates, LLC
• GoHealth Insurance
• Greeley and Hansen LLC
• Harley Ellis Devereaux
• Harrah's Joliet Casino & Hotel
• Hephzibah Children
• Hitachi Consulting
• iD Commerce + Logistics
• Ifbyphone Inc.
• Impact Networking, LLC
• Instant Technology
• Jupiter Communities, LLC
• kCura
• KeyLimeTie
• KPMG LLP
• Kutchins, Robbins & Diamond, Ltd.
• LaSalle Network
• Laurus Strategies
• LeasePlan USA
• Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC
• Luna
• McGladrey
• Medline Industries, Inc.
• Milhouse Engineering and Construction, Inc.
• Mortenson Construction
• Mutual Trust Financial Group
• National Futures Association
• NCSA Athletic Recruiting
• Nitel
• NOW Foods
• Office Concepts
• Omron Electronics
• OtterBase, Inc
• Paylocity
• PEAK6 Investments, LP
• Perspectives, Ltd
• Plexus
• Protiviti Inc.
• PSC Group, LLC
• Rabjohns Financial Group
• Radio Flyer
• RealTick / ConvergEx Group
• Red Frog Events
• Rightpoint
• Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor, Ltd.
• Ryan, LLC
• Service Express, Inc.
• Shure Inc.
• Sikich LLP
• Skender Construction
• Slalom Consulting
• Sonoma Partners, LLC
• Spot Trading
• Starcom
• Stout Risius Ross, Inc
• SunCoke Energy
• SWC Technology Partners
• Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
• Tasty Catering
• The Carlson Group, Inc.
• The Comprehensive Group
• The James
• ThoughtWorks, Inc
• Turner Construction Company
• Verizon Wireless
• VW Credit, Inc.
• West Monroe Partners
• WestLake Financial Group
• WMS Industries
• WOW Internet Cable and Phone