The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee has advanced the bipartisan Runway SAFE-T Act, a bill aimed at cutting runway incursions and other surface-safety incidents at US airports. Introduced by Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas and backed by Senator John Hickenlooper and other bipartisan cosponsors, the measure now moves to the Senate floor after clearing committee on Tuesday in Washington.
The legislation would direct the Federal Aviation Administration to expand airport driver training and accelerate adoption of surface-safety technology designed to reduce conflicts between aircraft and ground vehicles. It also seeks to make better use of existing federal funding for airport surface-safety upgrades, a priority for airports, airlines and ground-handling teams dealing with congestion and runway protection risks.
The bill was introduced in August as S.5224 and referred to the Commerce Committee before reaching the panel’s executive session. Committee approval gives the measure its first formal legislative breakthrough, although further action will still be needed before it can become law.