Honeywell Demonstrates SURF-A Runway Incursion Avoidance Tech

Once certified by the FAA, the software that creates a "third set of eyes" in the cockpit can be installed in existing and new production aircraft, according to the manufacturer.

Monday, June 10, 2024 at 03:49 PM ET

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The Honeywell 757 was equipped with cameras in the cockpit and computer monitors in the observer seats to show the pilot's view. [Courtesy: Meg Godlewski]

Key Takeaways:

Honeywell is developing and actively testing Surface Alert (SURF-A) software to prevent dangerous aviation events such as runway incursions, excursions, and wrong-surface landings.
SURF-A integrates with existing aircraft systems, using GPS data, ADS-B, and advanced analytics to provide pilots with critical aural and textual warnings about potential ground and approach hazards.
Demonstration flights on a specially equipped Boeing 757, simulating real-world scenarios, showcased SURF-A's effectiveness in alerting pilots to intruder aircraft, incorrect runway alignment, and unstable approaches.
Aimed for FAA certification within 12-18 months, this technology is designed to be installed in both new and existing aircraft to significantly enhance pilot situational awareness and safety.

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When an aircraft is someplace it isn’t supposed to be, it often results in a potentially dangerous situation, putting the lives of the flight crew and passengers at risk. These run the gamut from incursions when an aircraft doesn’t have permission to be on the runway because another one is already there, excursions—or runway overruns—and wrong-surface events, such as an aircraft landing on the wrong runway or on a taxiway by mistake.

In April, Honeywell announced development of Surface Alert (SURF-A), a software technology that will help pilots avoid these types of events. Now the company is testing the product using its specially equipped Boeing 757.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.