uAvionix’s surface situational awareness systems became operational June 30, 2024, at Indianapolis International Airport (KIND) in Indiana and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (KAUS) in Texas.
“This significant milestone marks the first approvals under the FAA’s Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI), part of a broader effort to enhance runway safety across the nation,” said Christian Ramsey, Chief Commercial Officer for uAvionix.
The uAvionix systems employ the company’s Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) service called FlightLine, which provides controllers with “real-time, precise depictions of aircraft and vehicles on the airport surface, thereby improving situational awareness and reducing the risk of runway incursions,” he added.
Each airport also installed several of uAvionix’s VTU-20 ADS-B Vehicle Movement Area Transmitters (VMATs) on airport vehicles, company officials said. VTU-20 is an FAA-approved system that allows vehicles that operate on runways and taxiways to be electronically seen by the tower and aircraft equipped with ADS-B In technologies, reducing the risk of runway incursions, they explained.
uAvionix officials added they will continue working with the FAA to expand FlightLine’s capability to other airports nationwide.
For more information: uAvionix.com, FAA.gov