The U.S. aviation system is the safest in the world, but one close call is one too many. In February 2023, the FAA moved swiftly to address concerns and issued a Safety Call to Action to take a critical look at the U.S. aerospace system’s structure, culture, processes, systems, and integration of safety efforts.

The FAA and the aviation community are pursuing a goal of zero serious close calls by examining a combination of technical and human factors. An independent safety review team is also examining ways to enhance safety and reliability in the nation’s air traffic system.

Safer on the Surface

To address specific safety concerns on the airport surface, the FAA has fast-tracked three initiatives as part of its Surface Safety Portfolio. See below details on the portfolio and a visualization of the FAA’s surface safety tools by airport.

Surface Awareness Initiative 

The Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI) delivers capabilities to improve controller situational awareness and reduce runway incursions. The challenge with surface awareness is ensuring air traffic controllers have vision of all the activity on that surface. The SAI provides timely and accurate depictions of both aircraft and vehicles that are transmitting Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) on the surface movement areas of an airport in all weather conditions.

Currently there are airports where tower controllers do not have visibility of all areas of the airport surface. By deploying the SAI capability to the tower cab, controllers have the awareness necessary to proactively address any potential safety concerns.

The FAA began installing SAI at air traffic control towers in June 2024. The agency plans to have SAI operational at 50 towers by the end of 2025.
 

Approach Runway Verification 

There are also opportunities to improve the functionality of existing systems to address the challenge. 

The Approach Runway Verification (ARV) is a function within the FAA’s flight-tracking system knows as the Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System. When aircraft are approaching the airport, the controller issues a landing clearance to a specific runway. The pilot may believe they are aligned with the proper runway but could actually be lined up with an adjacent runway or even a taxiway. The ARV alerts the air traffic controller of an aircraft that is not aligned with the runway surface as instructed.

As of Jan. 30, 2025, ARV is operational at 77 airports (air traffic control towers). The FAA is working toward providing ARV to additional airports, with more than 50 airports planned by the end of September 2025. 

The FAA develops site-specific adaptations based on runway configuration and procedures before ARV can be utilized for a given airport. The FAA’s objective is for ARV to be available at more than 500 airports.

Runway Incursion Device 

The Runway Incursion Device (RID) is a memory aid air traffic control uses to provide additional situational awareness of occupied and closed runways.

The RID provides an audible and visual alert to controllers when a runway is not available for departing or landing aircraft. This is another tool for controllers to use to continue to provide the safest surface environment.

Following an operational evaluation of the FAA’s standardized, in-house-built RIDs at five airports, the agency began installing the technology at air traffic control towers in January 2025. The FAA will continue to deploy RIDs to 74 airports through 2026.

Safety is not a static destination; it is a relentless pursuit that requires continuous improvement. These initiatives represent important improvements, but they are just a small part of a much larger and integrated effort and philosophy. The FAA will continue to analyze the data and make thoughtful and holistic recommendations to advance safety in the National Airspace System.