FAA and Sensis Receive 2011 Janes ATC Global Runway Safety Award

This is the first year for the Runway Safety award category, which recognizes a contribution to improved safety on or near the runway. The award recognizes the FAAs deployment of Sensis Corporation Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model X (ASDE-X) technology at 35 major U.S. airports, including five of the worlds ten busiest airports.

ASDE-X combines surface movement radar, multilateration and Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) data to provide air traffic controllers with highly accurate, real-time position and identification information of aircraft and vehicles on the airport surface. By integrating multiple surveillance technologies, the system delivers a comprehensive picture of ground operations, increasing controller situational awareness and improving airport safety in all weather conditions. The system also features advanced runway conflict detection and alerting technology, Safety Logic, which uses complex algorithms to alert controllers of potential aircraft or vehicle incursions. In addition, ASDE-X is also serving as the surveillance infrastructure for the FAAs Runway Status Lights (RWSL) program, which is being deployed by Sensis to 23 U.S. airports.

This award honors a groundbreaking, ambitious program that reflects the FAAs dedication to improving runway safety and reducing incursions, said Ken Kaminski, vice president and general manager of Sensis Air Traffic Systems. We are honored to share this inaugural award with the FAA.

ATC Global Award winners were selected by a panel of senior representatives from the FAA, Eurocontrol, IATA, CANSO, ICAO, IFATCA and Janes Airport Review.