New sensors at TPA designed to help prevent on-track incidents

TAMPA, Florida. – The FAA is implementing new technology at some airports nationwide, including Tampa Internationalwith the aim of reducing near misses on the slopes.

TPA is one of 18 projects selected so far. The system went live there a few weeks ago.

The Surface Awareness Initiative system uses sensors distributed across the airfield and corresponding to monitors in air traffic control towers. Planes and other vehicles appear as icons on an airport map that details runways, taxiways and other areas. It provides air traffic controllers with real-time data, showing traffic on the ground, so they can communicate any potential hazards to pilots.

“I just think it’s a really good opportunity to help air traffic control increase their safety through situational awareness tools and aids that, you know, make visual analysis of the runway easier.” , Craig Lowenstein, Service Awareness Initiative project manager for the FAA. , said.

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Lowenstein said the technology is an additional tool for air traffic controllers that can prove useful, especially in bad weather or when something is obstructing their view.

According to Lowenstein, the number of close accidents on runways early last year led the FAA to convene a safety summit where it developed a plan for the new technology.

“In early 2023, there were a series of major surface incidents, including a situation in Austin, and other events occurred that led the FAA to hold a safety summit and a safety summit. surface security in the first quarter of 2023. calendar year 2023. That led us to do some market research on what the industry was capable of,” he said.

“We wanted to determine what technology could we use to help air traffic control increase their ability to analyze terrain and improve their surface situational awareness and through requirements, determination and review, you know, of the available capabilities, we “We put this system in place so that we can deploy it quickly and put more tools in the hands of air traffic controllers,” Lowenstein said.

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The FAA looks at several factors, including the volume of traffic at an airport, the number of runway close calls, weather and other factors, to decide which airports will benefit from the new technology, Lowenstein said.

TPA was chosen primarily based on volume, he said, making it one of the top candidates.

The FAA installed the technology at the nation’s first four airports in June. TPA is part of the second payment block which includes 14 additional airports.

Lowenstein said it’s a simple, easy-to-use tool that allows the FAA to deploy it quickly and “solve issues that receive national attention.”

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“People in other technology areas, or other parts of air traffic, are really excited because this is something that fills a need, solves a problem and gives air traffic controllers a tool that they can use quickly,” Lowenstein said.

The technology will soon be deployed at airports in Palm Beach, Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville and Daytona Beach.

According to the FAA, during the first nine months of 2024, the rate of serious runway incursions decreased by 72% compared to the same period of 2023.

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“We have some success stories that we’re collecting from the first four that went into service. And we have anecdotal evidence in small cases where the pilots were heading down the wrong path or to a place where construction was in progress. course, and because the Surface Awareness Initiative display could highlight that this field was out of bounds, air traffic control was able to catch it early and redirect them, you know, over rough terrain or into places where they would have, you know, potential mechanical issues if they continue traffic lanes or ramps,” Lowenstein said.

By early 2025, Surface Awareness Initiative systems will be deployed at a total of 18 airports across the country, the FAA says.

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