B2B marketing for legacy system modernization in critical infrastructure sectors.
Analysis:
The FAA's announcement about phasing out floppy disks and Windows 95, amplified by media like John Oliver's show and widely discussed on platforms like Reddit, has become a significant public and industry focal point on outdated critical infrastructure. The sarcastic and concerned comments (e.g., "Are we ready for the next step up to Windows ME tho?", "Someone warn them about Y2K!") highlight a public awareness, albeit sometimes humorous, of the risks associated with aging technology in crucial systems. The mention that "They just got embarrassed on Last Week Tonight so now there's some momentum" underscores how public scrutiny can accelerate change.
This situation presents a prime moment for B2B technology companies specializing in:
- Legacy System Migration & Modernization: Companies that can help transition critical systems from obsolete hardware/software to modern, secure, and supportable platforms.
- Industrial Cybersecurity: Modernizing systems often involves increased connectivity, necessitating robust cybersecurity solutions tailored for operational technology (OT) environments.
- Embedded Systems & Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Upgrades: Many critical systems rely on specialized embedded hardware and software that require expert updating or replacement.
- Consulting and Risk Assessment: Firms that can audit existing infrastructure, identify vulnerabilities related to outdated tech, and roadmap modernization efforts.
Business/Marketing Opportunity:
A targeted B2B marketing campaign can be built around the theme: "The 'Floppy Disk Moment': Is Your Critical Infrastructure Next?"
- Target Audience: Government agencies (beyond the FAA, e.g., energy, transportation, defense) and private companies in sectors like aviation (airlines, MROs, airports), energy (utilities, grids), logistics (ports, rail), manufacturing, and healthcare – anywhere critical operational technology might be lagging.
- Key Message: Frame the FAA's situation as a highly visible example of a widespread problem. The core message should emphasize urgency, reliability, and security:
- "Don't wait for your 'floppy disk moment' to become a public headline. Proactively modernize your critical systems."
- "Legacy tech isn't just inefficient; it's a security risk. Secure your operations for the 21st century."
- "Inspired by the FAA's overdue upgrade? We specialize in migrating critical infrastructure from legacy vulnerabilities to modern resilience."
- Content & Channels:
- White Papers/Webinars: "Beyond the Floppy Disk: A Guide to Modernizing Your Critical OT Environment."
- Case Studies: (Anonymized if necessary) showcasing successful legacy migrations in similar sectors.
- LinkedIn Campaigns: Targeting C-suite executives, IT directors, and operations managers in the identified sectors with visuals contrasting old tech (like floppy disks) with modern interfaces.
- PR & Thought Leadership: Articles and interviews discussing the broader implications of technological debt in critical infrastructure, positioning the company as an expert solution provider.
- Direct Outreach: Leveraging the FAA news as a conversation starter with potential clients.
This event has created a relatable symbol (the floppy disk) for a complex technical issue, making it easier to communicate the value proposition of modernization services. The public attention provides an external pressure point that can help B2B marketers overcome inertia within target organizations.
Origin Reddit Post
r/technology
FAA to eliminate floppy disks used in air traffic control systems - Windows 95 also being phased out
Posted by u/chrisdh79•06/08/2025
Top Comments
u/Abernachy
TempleOS, god protects the planes they can use his preferred operating system.
u/barkatmoon303
When John Oliver featured the Deadspin video Sinclair was in the middle of trying to acquire Tribune's 42 TV stations. They had been carrying Trump propaganda during the entire election speci
u/jazir5
I'm sure they've replaced it with yet another toxic chemical that we'll only find out is toxic in ~10 years, just like almost every other "bpa free" product in existence.
u/reiji_tamashii
Windows 2000 came out first. But yeah, it was far, far superior to ME.
2000 was the NT-based business OS, where ME was meant for home users.
u/ilep
Scientific computing uses tons of code written in Fortran. That has been debugged and proven to give expected results and since it has been used for decades it is pretty well optimized.
But
u/Hahaguymandude
How are they going to deal with 9/11 though?
u/LowestKey
We all know how notoriously quickly government responds to criticism.
u/SavingsDimensions74
Considering most of the world’s airlines reservation systems still use 1950/60s tech and novel adaptations of assembly language, which is something of a niche skill, the FAA is already way ah
u/pixel_of_moral_decay
Honestly: this is all just a grift.
These systems aren’t supposed to be connected to the internet. In a closed environment, locked down so nobody can make changes, if it’s reliable it should
u/dakilazical_253
John Oliver did a takedown of Sinclair Broadcasting years ago and all that happened is they made the Seattle station stop airing the pre-produced propaganda pieces at 4 am and moved it to the
u/appsteve
They said that in 2005…I’ll believe it when I see it.
u/WhereDidAllTheSnowGo
Misleading headline
“outlined an ambitious goal” is only a few billion $$$ away from “FAA to eliminate”
u/evilpenguin9000
Having worked for Nexstar, they aren't quite as evil as Sinclair, but them owning more stations isn't a good thing.
u/ilep
Scientific computing uses tons of code written in Fortran. That has been debugged and proven to give expected results and since it has been used for decades it is pretty well optimized.
But
u/LowestKey
We all know how notoriously quickly government responds to criticism.
u/Gustapher00
Someone warn them about Y2K!
u/belizeanheat
There's always a catalyst for stuff like this. They just got embarrassed on Last Week Tonight so now there's some momentum
u/Gustapher00
Someone warn them about Y2K!
u/DutchBlob
Stop whining. They are on windows 95 which is still 84 versions more recent than windows 11!
u/CalamariAce
Its wings were clipped. I'm sorry.
u/Beelzabub
But what about Clippy?
u/pixel_of_moral_decay
Honestly: this is all just a grift.
These systems aren’t supposed to be connected to the internet. In a closed environment, locked down so nobody can make changes, if it’s reliable it should
u/d_pyro
They should skip it and go straight to 2000.
u/kcamnodb
Are we ready for the next step up to Windows ME tho?
u/visceralintricacy
Y'know they do make bpa (& bps) free thermal rolls? It isn't even that expensive.
u/WhereDidAllTheSnowGo
Misleading headline
“outlined an ambitious goal” is only a few billion $$$ away from “FAA to eliminate”
u/Hefty-Boot-4757
What about Bob?
u/NoWriting9127
They have to switch over to Truth social for communications now so it will definitely happen!
u/Abernachy
TempleOS, god protects the planes they can use his preferred operating system.
u/moomoomilky1
what's in the box
u/gwarmachine1120
I thought this was an Onion headline
u/visceralintricacy
Y'know they do make bpa (& bps) free thermal rolls? It isn't even that expensive.
u/randombrain
Again, as a controller...
The floppy disks are used to upload instrument approach procedures into a reference computer that's available at the control positions, and that reference computer
u/Beelzabub
But what about Clippy?
u/saml01
I’ll put money on it being one fringe application that isn’t even important but the media got hung up on because FAA reeeeeeeeeee.
u/NoWriting9127
They have to switch over to Truth social for communications now so it will definitely happen!
u/gwarmachine1120
I thought this was an Onion headline
u/WhateverJoel
John Oliver did a major story on the railroads last year and not one thing has changed.
u/appsteve
They said that in 2005…I’ll believe it when I see it.
u/kcamnodb
Are we ready for the next step up to Windows ME tho?
u/WhateverJoel
John Oliver did a major story on the railroads last year and not one thing has changed.
u/quarterdecay
Only a couple days after John Oliver eviscerates the FAA.
u/randombrain
Again, as a controller...
The floppy disks are used to upload instrument approach procedures into a reference computer that's available at the control positions, and that reference computer
u/Hahaguymandude
How are they going to deal with 9/11 though?
u/quarterdecay
Only a couple days after John Oliver eviscerates the FAA.
u/barkatmoon303
100%. My point was only that the deadspin video and John Oliver featuring it did have a huge impact, counter to what others were saying.
u/CalamariAce
Its wings were clipped. I'm sorry.
u/randombrain
The application isn't *fringe* as such, it's a useful tool that we use to reference information and procedures while we're working a control position.
But you're right that it really isn't a
u/belizeanheat
There's always a catalyst for stuff like this. They just got embarrassed on Last Week Tonight so now there's some momentum
u/Graega
It's probably something even stupider, like wasting their budget on system upgrades so they can "prove" they don't have the budget to hire more air traffic controllers as an excuse to... some