The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced the implementation of advanced safety technology upgrades aimed at bolstering aviation safety across the nation.
The FAA plans to install this cutting-edge technology in 74 airports by the end of 2026, with the primary goal of detecting and preventing runway incursions. According to Reuters, the technology, known as the Runway Incursion Device, will serve as a crucial alert system for air traffic controllers, promptly indicating when a runway is in use.
Currently, the system is operational in four airports, with plans to expand its deployment to an additional 70 airports within the next 19 months.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has indicated that he will soon unveil a comprehensive plan to overhaul the nation’s air traffic control system, replacing outdated technology with modern solutions. This initiative gains increased urgency following the tragic collision between a military helicopter and an American Airlines jet on January 29th near Reagan Washington National Airport, which resulted in the loss of 67 lives.
Duffy also outlined his intention to request tens of billions of dollars from Congress to fund the air traffic control system reforms. A report from the Government Accountability Office highlighted the critical need for the FAA to address the aging air traffic control infrastructure, noting that a third of the current system is becoming unsustainable.
In October of last year, the FAA initiated an audit of runway incursion risks at 45 of the busiest airports in the United States.
A persistent shortage of air traffic controllers has led to flight delays and has forced many controllers to work overtime and six-day weeks to compensate for the understaffing. The FAA is currently short approximately 3,500 controllers, prompting strong calls for action from the aviation industry and members of Congress.
New Technology Deployment at Airports
In addition to the Runway Incursion Device, the FAA will also implement two other new systems: the Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI) and Approach Runway Verification (ARV).
The SAI leverages Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data to provide air traffic controllers at airports lacking surface surveillance tools with a comprehensive view of surface traffic. This system has already been implemented in 18 airports and is slated for expansion to 32 additional airports by the end of 2025.
Notably, Austin Airport, which experienced a near-serious collision in 2023 between a Southwest Airlines plane and a FedEx aircraft due to an air traffic controller’s error, is among the airports already utilizing the Runway Incursion Device.
By implementing these advanced technologies, the FAA aims to significantly enhance aviation safety and reduce the risk of accidents caused by runway incursions, as part of a broader effort to modernize the air traffic control system.
Ringkasan
The FAA is implementing advanced safety technology upgrades, including the Runway Incursion Device, at 74 airports by the end of 2026 to detect and prevent runway incursions. This initiative follows a tragic collision and aims to modernize the air traffic control system by replacing outdated technology, as highlighted by a Government Accountability Office report.
In addition to the Runway Incursion Device, the FAA will deploy the Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI) and Approach Runway Verification (ARV). These efforts, which include leveraging Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data, are designed to provide air traffic controllers with a comprehensive view of surface traffic and enhance overall aviation safety, particularly at airports lacking surface surveillance tools.