Boston-Logan Airport First For Runway Safety Lights
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that Boston-Logan International Airport is to be the first US airport to be equipped with new runway warning light technology.
The FAA is to sign an agreement with the airport's operator, the Massachusetts Port Authority, which will enable the technology to be installed by the end of 2009.
Boston-Logan will become the first major airport to use the runway status light (RWSL) technology at intersections between taxiways and runways. Los Angeles International Airport also hopes to install RWSL during 2009-2010.
The FAA hopes that over 35 major US airports will have the technology installed by 2012.
Boston-Logan has been selected to be one of the first in line to have RWSL fitted because, according to an FAA report released in September 2007, the airport recorded the highest number of runway incursions at a major US airport in recent years. Between 2003 and 2006, there were 25 incursions recorded at the busy airport.
As previously reported by Airport International, a two-and-a-half-year trial of the runway status light (RWSL) technology at Dallas/Fort-Worth International Airport yielded impressive results with regard to improving ground safety and awareness
RWSL 'Improves Airport Ground Safety'
The RWSL technology works by using detection equipment and the airport's ground radar to determine the position of aircraft and ground support vehicles on the runways, taxiways and apron space at any one time.
If the system detects a potential collision between aircraft and ground vehicles, red warning lights embedded in the runway and taxiway surface will flash to warn pilots that it is unsafe to cross that particular runway or taxiway.
After the Dallas/Forth Worth trial, the US Department of Transportation categorically said that RWSL helps to improve ground safety at airports. They commented that "RWSL is a viable and important technology for reducing runway incursions...[it] is a promising technology for...[providing] direct warnings to pilots of potential runway conflicts".
In announcing the Boston-Logan operation, however, the FAA said that "there is no silver bullet for runway safety" and that RWSL should only be a tool to help pilots and air traffic controllers. The agency said adequate training of ground operating procedures and clearances should still be a top priority.
Source - Airport International's US Correspondent
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