Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced $1.1 billion in airport infrastructure investment on Sept. 14, including a record $10.9 million to equip 3,000 runway vehicles with safety transmitters at 61 airports across the country.
The transmitters improve runway situational awareness for pilots and air traffic controllers, directly addressing one of aviation’s most dangerous hazards: runway incursions, Duffy said.
Runway incursions occur when an aircraft, vehicle or person is on a runway without authorization, creating collision risk. They are among the most serious safety events tracked by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.
The $10.9 million transmitter investment will outfit ground vehicles operating on active runways and taxiways at 61 airports with devices that broadcast their positions to cockpit and control tower displays, according to the FAA. The technology gives pilots and controllers real-time awareness of vehicle locations, reducing the risk of ground collisions.
The broader $1.1 billion package addresses a range of terminal and airfield infrastructure needs, including runway rehabilitation, taxiway improvements, terminal modernization and safety system upgrades at airports nationwide.
U.S. airports serve more than 900 million passengers annually, and aging infrastructure has been identified as a growing challenge by aviation industry groups and congressional appropriators. The FAA distributes airport improvement funding through the Airport Improvement Program and supplemental grant authorities.
The transmitter initiative responds to a series of high-profile near-miss incidents that heightened public and congressional concern about runway safety at major U.S. airports in recent years.
Duffy said the investments would improve safety and operational capacity at airports serving communities of all sizes. The funding is distributed through established FAA grant programs and requires matching contributions from airport sponsors in many cases.