Airports
New Radar Software Protects Against Taxiway Landings
Select U.S. airports have received installation of ASDE-X Taxiway Arrival Prediction, a software enhancement that alerts controllers to improper landings.
Aerial view of runways and taxiways at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport was the first airport to implement the ASDE-X Taxiway Arrival Prediction in 2018. Since then, the system has prevented more than 50 attempted taxiway landings. (Photo: Timo Breidenstein (GFDL 1.2 or GFDL 1.2), via Wikimedia Commons)

Wrong-surface landings are one of the FAA’s top-five safety hazards, and to help mitigate the threat of pilots lining up to land on taxiways the agency has completed its enhancement of ground radar systems at 43 airports with an ASDE-X Taxiway Arrival Prediction (ATAP) upgrade. These airports already had either ASDE-X or similar ASSC ground radar systems.

The ATAP software analyzes the flight paths of arriving aircraft and anticipates when one is lining up for an improper landing. It will then issue visual and audible warnings to alert controllers.