The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is to roll out new runway safety technology at four airports in the United States (US) designed to reduce the risk of runway incursions.
Austin-Bergstrom (AUS), Indianapolis (IND), Nashville (BNA) and Dallas Love Field (DAL) will be the first airports in the US to receive the new airfield surveillance systems, intended to improve air traffic controllers’ situational awareness.
In a statement on April 15, 2024, the FAA said the Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI) system will be installed at the four airports by July 2024, with many more receiving the technology by the end of next year.
“We’re committed to doing everything possible to make our runways even safer,” FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said. “This cost-effective technology provides controllers with timely and accurate depictions of aircraft and vehicles on the entire airfield in all weather conditions.”
Surface Awareness Initiative system uses Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) data to display surface traffic to controllers at airports that do not have a surface surveillance tool.
Aircraft and ADS-B-equipped vehicles appear as icons on an airport map that depicts runways, taxiways, hold ramps and other areas.
Surface Awareness Initiative is one of the three tools that make up the FAA’s fast-tracked surface safety portfolio.
The other initiatives are Approach Runway Verification (ARV) and the Runway Incursion Device (RID).
In February 2023, the FAA issued a ‘Safety Call to Action’ to take a critical look at the US aerospace system’s structure, culture, processes, systems and integration of safety efforts.
Over the last two years there have been increased concerns over the number of runway incursions, close calls and near misses that have been occurring in the US.
