FAA Rolls Out New Airfield Tech to Boost Airport Safety

• The FAA is rolling out new airfield surveillance technology at airports to reduce runway accidents and improve controllers' situational awareness. Systems will be installed at 4 airports by July, with more coming by end of 2025.

• The technology helps controllers track all vehicles and aircraft on airfields in all weather conditions. It is cost-effective and timely.

• This effort follows close calls at airports in early 2023 and a safety review examining system reliability. The FAA aims to address loss of "muscle memory" during the pandemic.

• The FAA has been hiring more air traffic controllers, surpassing hiring goals. It also improved college training programs to get more graduates facility-ready faster.

• Other FAA safety efforts include new lighting, meetings with airports, and a system providing alerts about wrong runway alignments when planes approach to land.