Twenty-Two Airports Now Using Airport Surface Detection Equipment

Philadelphia International Airport (KPHL) is now operating with Sensis Corporation's Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model X (ASDE-X), a runway incursion detection and alerting system. KPHL is the 22nd airport to receive the technology under the FAA's ASDE-X program that will reach 35 airports by 2011.

"At the recent International Runway Safety Summit, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt credited technology such as ASDE-X with improving runway safety, as demonstrated by a 50 percent reduction in serious runway incursions in the FAA's last fiscal year," said John Jarrell, vice president and general manager of Sensis Air Traffic Systems. "ASDE-X is also serving as the surveillance source for the FAA's Runway Status Lights program that will address the NTSB's recommendation for potential incursion warnings to be delivered directly to the cockpit."

ASDE-X combines surface movement radar, multilateration and Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) to provide air traffic controllers with highly accurate, real-time position and identification information of all aircraft and vehicles on the airport surface. By integrating multiple surveillance technologies, the system delivers a comprehensive picture of ground operations, increasing controller situational awareness and improving airport safety in all weather conditions. The system also features advanced runway conflict detection and alerting technology, Safety Logic, which uses complex algorithms to alert controllers of potential aircraft and/or vehicle incursions.

FMI: www.sensis.com