Airports
FAA Selects First Airports for New Runway Safety System
The SAI will depict airport surface traffic for controllers
Aircraft at Austin-Bergstrom Airport (Photo: Matt Helgren/Austin-Bergstrom International Airport))
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas is among the initial tranche of facilities to receive the FAA's Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI) system. © Matt Helgren/Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

The FAA has selected Austin-Bergstrom, Indianapolis International, Nashville, and Dallas Love Field as the first airports to receive the Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI) system aimed at improving air traffic controller situational awareness and reducing runway incursions. Plans call to have SAI operational at the four airports by July, with "scores" of other airports set to receive it by the end of 2025.

SAI, Approach Runway Verification, and Runway Incursion Device are the three technologies the FAA is fast-tracking to improve surface safety. Using ADS-B data, SAI displays surface traffic to controllers at airports that don’t have a surface surveillance tool, the FAA said, noting that aircraft and other vehicles will appear as icons on an airport map depicting runways, taxiways, hold ramps, and other areas.