"Why does it have to be shut down once a week?"
Surprised no one has answered that question which we asked a few years ago as operators and were told the simple and logical answer;
There is only 1. If you want to fiddle with that 1 you have to take it off line.
Other places have 2 or even 3 computers. 1 working, 1 on standby and 1 for playing with. That is why they don't have the same problem.
It is ironic that we file our FPLs and RPLs to two computers that are not just independent and backed-up but located in geographically different areas. However, that feeds to a single point of failure in London.
We were told that the plan was to have 1 new computer for all the UK in Scotland's ACC and another in London's ACC and they would provide back-up for each other. IS that still a plan or are NATs going to save some money and just by 1 system?
Regards,
DFC