The Federal Aviation Administration is expanding a series of initiatives aimed at reducing risks on airport surfaces across the United States. Through its Surface Safety Portfolio, the agency is deploying three complementary technologies to improve controllers’ situational awareness and cut runway incursions.
The Surface Awareness Initiative uses Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast data to display aircraft and equipped ground vehicles on detailed airport maps in control towers that lack full surface surveillance. The FAA began installing SAI in June 2024 and plans to have it operating at 50 towers by the end of 2025.
Approach Runway Verification provides controllers with an additional check to confirm that aircraft are aligned with the correct runway before landing. As of January 30, 2025, ARV is in use at 77 towers, with more than 50 additional airports scheduled to receive it by the end of September 2025 and a long-term objective of more than 500 locations.
The Runway Incursion Device, developed in-house by the FAA, indicates when runways are occupied or closed and replaces a variety of legacy memory aids in towers. After operational evaluations at several airports, installation began in January 2025, with plans to deploy RIDs to 74 airports through 2026.
In parallel, the FAA is requiring commercial airports to implement Safety Management Systems, reinforcing data-driven monitoring of hazards on the ground. The agency describes these programs as part of a broader, continuous effort to identify risks early and strengthen airport safety nationwide.