The FAA recently installed the 100th system in its Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI) — an aircraft and vehicle surveillance tool — reaching nearly half of the 220 airports set to receive the system.
SAI allows air traffic controllers to track aircraft and vehicles in real time, including in poor weather conditions or when aircraft may be out of sight from the control tower, FAA officials explained.
SAI uses Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data from aircraft and vehicles, enabling controllers to see surface traffic.
“SAI is vital for controllers. It gives them the big picture of the airport’s surface right at their fingertips,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “For our controllers to work at their best, they need the technology to match their expertise.”
SAI is currently operational at 100 air traffic control towers. Some of the most recent installations are at Ann Arbor Municipal Airport, Billings-Logan International Airport, Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, and Corpus Christi International Airport.
The FAA plans to continue its installation at another 44 airports by the end of 2026.
For more information: FAA.gov
Leave a Reply