The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has called for increased investment in aviation safety technology solutions following a series of close-call runway incidents this year. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said that technology systems that detect aircraft and ground vehicles at airports need to be upgraded and all other commercial airports need additional technology.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the rate of runway incursions is coming closer to normal levels and the FAA has taken steps to improve air traffic control, convening a safety summit and issuing a safety alert. The FAA has also announced an investment of $100 million in 12 airports for improvements to taxiways and lighting to reduce runway incursions.
Homendy highlighted a near-miss incident in Austin in February between a FedEx cargo plane and a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 that came within about 115 feet of each other in poor visibility conditions. She said the crew of the FedEx plane did a great job in aborting their planned landing. Other near-miss incidents have occurred in Boston, Florida and New York’s JFK airport between a Delta Air Lines plane and an American Airlines Boeing 777.
The U.S. has not had a major fatal U.S. passenger airline crash since February 2009. With increased investment in aviation safety technology solutions, the NTSB hopes to ensure that this record continues.