Thu, Feb 18, 2010
Prototype System Installed Last June
Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and the FAA entered into a
Memorandum of Agreement Tuesday for the installation of a Runway
Safety Status Lights (RWSL) system at Los Angeles International
Airport (LAX). This agreement augments a prototype system that was
installed June 2009. The RWSL system will increase the overall
safety of aircraft operations at LAX by reducing the likelihood of
a runway collision.
"With these new safety lights, LAX will become one of the first
airports in the country to take advantage of a fully implemented
Runway Status Lights system," said Los Angeles City Councilman Bill
Rosendahl, whose 11th District includes LAX. He added, "Airport
safety should always be our top priority, and this puts us squarely
at the forefront of that effort."
LAWA Executive Director Gina Marie Lindsey said, "The
installation of this final phase of status lights will mark another
milestone in our efforts to make LAX the safest airport in the
nation. We thank the FAA for its leadership by accelerating the
schedule and prioritizing LAX."
The RWSL system warns pilots about potential runway safety
hazards using a series of red lights embedded in the airfield
pavement that indicate if it is unsafe to cross or enter a runway.
The lighting system works in conjunction with a state-of-the-art
Airport Surface Detection Equipment Model-X (ASDE-X) ground radar
that collects data from more sources than LAX's previous ground
radar system and provides air traffic controllers with color map
displays showing locations of all aircraft and vehicles on the
runways and taxiways.
In addition to the existing prototype installation, the FAA has
determined 11 new taxiway locations for Runway Entrance Lights
(RELs) and one new runway location for a Takeoff Hold Light (THL).
When completed, LAX's airfield will have a total of 27 RELs and two
THLs.
Under Tuesday's agreement, the FAA will design, own, operate and
maintain the entire system, which includes all required data
processing equipment and software to operate the Runway Status
Lights, RELs and THLs. LAWA will not incur any cost for this new
installation.
The FAA has placed LAX on an accelerated implementation schedule
with a completion date of 2012.
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