FAA Selects Sensis Corporation for
Runway Status Lights ProgramRWSL to Increase Runway Safety by Giving Pilots
Direct Warning of
Potential Incursion
EAST SYRACUSE, NY – October 17, 2008 – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has selected Sensis Corporation to deploy Runway Status Lights (RWSL) at major airports across the U.S. Sensis has teamed with Siemens USA and HNTB Corporation to implement the RWSL program. RWSL is a system of red lights embedded in the pavement of runways that automatically warns pilots if it is unsafe to cross or enter a runway and “take-off hold lights” that indicate if a runway is unsafe for departure.
“Sensis has drawn on more than a decade of airport surveillance and conflict prediction and alerting technology advancements as well as over 80 deployments around the world to deliver a complete runway status light solution,” said Tony Lo Brutto, Vice President and General Manager of Sensis Air Traffic Systems. “FAA Acting Administrator Robert Sturgell has noted that runway status lights are another valuable tool in reducing the risk of runway incursions. Along with ASDE-X, runway status lights will provide an added layer of runway safety.”
RWSL operates by automatically illuminating red lights if the airport’s Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model X (ASDE-X) detects traffic on or approaching the same runway.
The Sensis-led team will work with the FAA and the airports to tailor the lighting design and implementation at each site. Sensis will create, test and optimize the RWSL light activation Safety Logic to integrate RWSL with ASDE-X. Siemens USA will deliver the field lighting systems and HNTB Corporation will provide construction management and site design.
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