The deployment of the Runway Incursion Device at airports marks the third and final fast-tracked initiative from 2023’s Safety Call to Action.
Air traffic control tower in St. Louis (Photo: Shutterstock | ArtByArthur)
The Federal Aviation Administration is rolling out runway safety technology upgrades at 74 air traffic control towers in the U.S.
According to an FAA news release published Wednesday, The Runway Incursion Device (RID) is the last of three fast-tracked initiatives launched from the February 2023 Safety Call to Action aimed at improving runway safety and reducing incursions.
The RID assists air traffic controllers by indicating when a runway is occupied or closed, and can identify up to eight runways. The memory aid replaces a variety of devices at control towers and is now designated by the FAA as “a standard technology.”
“The Runway Incursion Device is another vital tool to keep the flying public safe,” said Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau, in the release. “These initiatives will continue to address the needs of our controllers by cutting through the red tape and bringing the most up-to-date technologies to their fingertips.”
According to the release, the RID is operational in four locations: Centennial Airport in Colorado, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas, Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport in Missouri, and Portland International Airport in Oregon.
The FAA aims to deploy the device at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida, Hollywood Burbank Airport in California, and Boise Airport in Idaho in the next month. It will also be deployed at 69 other airports throughout the country by the end of 2026.
An American Airlines jet landing on runway 18R with the Austin skyline in the background. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Mateen Kontoravdis)
The RID joins the Surface Awareness Initiative system (SAI) and the Approach Runway Verification system (ARV) as the final of three situational awareness solutions commissioned by the FAA.
The FAA release stated that SAI is operational at 18 airports, and there are plans to install it at 32 more by the end of 2025. ARV is in 85 control towers and will continue to be implemented at other airport facilities.
SAI uses Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast data to show surface traffic to controllers at airports without a surface surveillance tool. ARV gives controllers visual and sound alerts if an approaching aircraft is positioned to land on the wrong airport surface.
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