FAA to Equip 74 Airports with Runway Safety Technology by 2026

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced plans to enhance runway safety by installing advanced technology at 74 U.S. airports by the end of 2026. This move comes in response to a series of runway incursions and safety concerns across the nation's aviation system. 

The centrepiece of this initiative is the Runway Incursion Device (RID), a memory aid for air traffic controllers designed to alert them when a runway is already occupied. The system is currently active at four airports and will be rolled out at an additional 70 locations over the next 19 months. 

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the FAA is also preparing a broader overhaul of the U.S. air traffic control system, which still relies on aging infrastructure. Duffy intends to request tens of billions of dollars from Congress to modernise these systems. 

The urgency to upgrade safety protocols has intensified following the 29 January collision near Reagan Washington National Airport between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet. The tragic incident claimed 67 lives and renewed scrutiny of aviation safety nationwide. 

According to the Government Accountability Office, nearly one-third of the FAA’s air traffic control systems are outdated and unsustainable, requiring immediate reform. 

In October, the FAA launched an audit of runway incursion risks at the 45 busiest airports in the U.S. This came after multiple near-miss incidents raised alarms over understaffed control towers and rising pressure on air traffic controllers, many of whom are working six-day weeks and mandatory overtime. 

The RID system has already been implemented at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, where a serious 2023 incident involving Southwest Airlines and FedEx occurred due to controller error. 

In addition to RID, the FAA is expanding two other safety systems: 

• Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI): This tool uses Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) data to give controllers a live view of surface traffic at airports lacking advanced ground surveillance. Currently in use at 18 airports, it will be installed at 32 more by the end of 2025. 

  
  

• Approach Runway Verification System: Another layer of safety that ensures arriving aircraft are properly aligned and cleared for landing. 

  
  

The FAA’s goal is to modernise and safeguard the air traffic control system while addressing its shortage of approximately 3,500 controllers, which continues to strain operations and delay flights.