Runway Situational Awareness System Designed To Increase Safety On The Ground

The FAA has selected Saab Sensis Corporation for the Airport Surface Surveillance Capability (ASSC) program. FAA has incrementally funded $5 million of the $54 million five year contract. In addition, options for deliveries beyond the five year period are valued at $65 million, for a total contract value of $119 million.

ASSC is a program that will bring enhanced surface situational awareness and advanced warning of potential runway incursions to nine U.S. airports for increased safety and efficiency, including options for additional sites. Each ASSC deployment will incorporate Saab Sensis multilateration, safety logic conflict detection and alerting software, air traffic controller working positions, and recording/playback functionality. ASSC will process Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) data along with other sensor sources for a single, fused view of the airport runways and taxiways. In addition, the flexible nature of the ASSC system architecture enables future airport surface safety enhancements, such as Runway Status Lights (RWSL), and airport surface movement data distribution to other approved systems and users.

The FAA has indicated the following airports to receive ASSC: Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (Alaska), Andrews Air Force Base (Maryland), Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (Kentucky), Cleveland Hopkins Airport (Ohio), Kansas City International Airport (Missouri), Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (Louisiana), Pittsburgh International Airport (Pennsylvania), Portland International Airport (Oregon), and San Francisco International Airport (California).

"Through ASSC, Saab Sensis will draw on its successful ASDE-X program and strong working relationship with the FAA to improve the surface safety at nine more U.S. airports. The system uses technologies already certified for use in the National Airspace System for an efficient, cost-effective solution," said Ken Kaminski, vice president and general manager of Saab Sensis. "This program further strengthens Saab Sensis' position as the world leader in Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control Systems and surface conflict detection and alerting with more than 50 sites worldwide."

Saab Sensis has deployed Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model X (ASDE-X), the FAA's primary runway situational awareness system, to 35 major U.S. airports and is the prime contractor for the RWSL program with 23 airports under contract. The company is also participating in the FAA's Low Cost Ground Surveillance program. Internationally, the company is deploying or has deployed Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control Systems to nine airports and surface multilateration at 18 additional airports.

FMI: www.saabgroup.com