In the ever-evolving landscape of aviation safety, Honeywell is stepping up to address one of the most pressing challenges faced by pilots and air traffic controllers: runway incursions. With the increase in air traffic—44,000 flights daily in the U.S. alone—incidents where aircraft, vehicles, or personnel occupy runways improperly have become alarmingly frequent, averaging 4.5 per day in 2022. These incursions can lead to serious accidents, as highlighted by the tragic collision involving an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet in January 2023, which tragically resulted in the loss of 67 lives.
To combat these dangers, Honeywell has developed an innovative cockpit alert system known as Surface Alert, or SURF-A. This system aims to provide vital information to pilots, offering them precious seconds to react to potential hazards before landing or taking off. During a recent test flight at Topeka Regional Airport, Honeywell’s senior test pilot, Capt. Kirk Vining, successfully demonstrated the alerts’ efficacy. In one simulated incident, the system alerted him to traffic on the runway moments before landing, allowing for a safe go-around—a technique that can literally mean the difference between life and death in aviation.
The significance of such technology cannot be overstated. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has classified serious runway incursions, which narrowly avoid collisions, as a top-tier safety concern. In 2023, serious incursions peaked at 22 incidents, the highest in a decade. Consequently, safety experts have been advocating for advanced cockpit alerts to enhance situational awareness during airport operations. Honeywell’s SURF-A alerts utilize Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) data, which acts like GPS for aircraft, providing critical information about nearby traffic.
Honeywell’s commitment to safety is bolstered by the endorsement of industry veterans. Thea Feyereisen, a distinguished technical fellow for Honeywell Aerospace Technologies, emphasizes that “seconds count when you’re operating near the runway.” The new technology could potentially give pilots up to 10 additional seconds to react to a hazardous situation, a significant window in the high-stakes environment of aviation.
However, the introduction of such advanced systems does raise questions about the potential for information overload in the cockpit. As noted by Jeff Guzzetti, a retired air safety investigator, “if you’re blasting alerts through a cockpit speaker at low altitudes during critical phases of flight, you create too many distractions.” Therefore, Honeywell is careful to balance the urgency of alerts with the need to maintain pilot focus.
Adoption of these technologies is underway, with major airlines like Southwest and American Airlines integrating Honeywell’s alert systems into their fleets. Southwest has reported no runway incursions since implementing the software, and American Airlines is training its pilots on these critical tools as well. The economic feasibility of such systems is also notable; outfitting an aircraft with Honeywell’s software typically costs tens of thousands of dollars—an investment that pales in comparison to the costs associated with a collision.
As the aviation industry strives for zero incidents, the introduction of technologies like Honeywell’s SURF-A is a step in the right direction. The underlying premise of aviation safety remains the Swiss cheese model, where various layers of safety measures work together to cover potential gaps. While the tragic events of early 2023 have underscored the vulnerabilities in the current system, ongoing advancements in technology and collaboration among industry stakeholders are paving the way for a safer future in aviation.
In conclusion, as the aviation landscape continues to evolve, the implementation of more sophisticated cockpit alert systems is not just a luxury—it’s a necessity. The focus on enhancing situational awareness and providing pilots with timely, actionable information is paramount in mitigating risks associated with runway incursions. With continued innovation and a commitment to safety, the aviation industry is poised to address these challenges head-on, striving to reduce the likelihood of accidents to as close to zero as possible.
