Project Aimed At Airfield Safety

Continuing its global leadership in airfield safety and cutting-edge implementation of new safety standards, DFW International Airport this week accepted a $4M grant from the Federal Aviation Administration to fund construction of the first phase of perimeter taxiways around the Airport. DFW is expected to have the taxiway project completed by 2008, increasing runway safety while speeding passengers to their gate without having to stop to wait for opportunities to cross an active runway. 

"At DFW, safety and security are our top priorities, and it all begins as soon as a plane reaches our 18,000 acres," says Jim Crites, executive vice president of operations at DFW. "What this Airport team has done over the past five years to improve airfield safety has put new safety programs and procedures in airports around the world. We are extremely proud of that -- and now perimeter taxiways will be the latest innovation that will improve an already phenomenal track record at DFW."

Perimeter taxiways -- ribbons of concrete that will circle DFW's massive airfield and seven runways -- enable aircraft to taxi around runways rather than having to cross them, avoiding possible incursions while decreasing radio communications traffic between pilots and controllers. The precedent-setting program was successfully tested by DFW and by NASA at its Ames FutureFlight Central, virtual reality control tower, and at the FAA's William J. Hughes Technical Center. Active-duty pilots and air traffic controllers who fly out of and work at DFW took part in the testing.

"The Federal Aviation Administration has been working in partnership with the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport for over 11 years on a safety and efficiency initiative, known as the Perimeter Taxiway System, an initiative that will reduce significantly the over 1,700 daily runway crossings," said Mike Nicely, manager of the FAA's Texas Airport Development Office. "The FAA is very impressed with DFW's continued commitment toward enhancing safety at the airport with initiatives such as the Perimeter Taxiway System and looks forward to this first quadrant becoming operational."

In addition, DFW's airfield safety programs were recently recognized for a record-setting fourth consecutive year of zero-discrepancies in its FAA certification process -- covering more than 3.8 million take-offs and landings in that period.

FMI: www.dfwairport.com