The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey activated transponders on rescue and firefighting trucks at LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International Airport on Monday, upgrading runway surface tracking after the fatal Air Canada Express collision at LaGuardia in March. The devices send signals to tower controllers so vehicles can be identified in real time on runways and taxiways, closing a safety gap highlighted by investigators.
The March 22 crash involved an Air Canada Express CRJ900 that struck a Port Authority fire truck on a LaGuardia runway, killing both pilots. Investigators found the truck did not carry a transponder, which limited the airport’s surface surveillance system and prevented an alert from being generated.
The new equipment is being deployed on Port Authority rescue vehicles at the two New York airports, with the wider programme also discussed for Newark Liberty International Airport. The change follows longstanding FAA guidance for emergency vehicles operating on airports equipped with surface monitoring systems.