Saab’s New Cloud-Based Runway Safety System is Now Operational at Nashville International Airport
In less than 90 days after being selected by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under their Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI), Saab’s Aerobahn Runway and Surface Safety system is helping air traffic controllers manage operations at Nashville.
For 30 years, Saab has proudly partnered with the FAA to provide surveillance and software tools that help air traffic controllers maintain situational awareness and avoid catastrophic aircraft collisions. Saab’s successful, proven systems, deployed through the FAA’s Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model X (ASDE-X) and Airport Surface Surveillance Capability (ASSC) programs, have contributed to the FAA’s exceptional safety record.
The FAA’s SAI program now aims to deploy the same sort of capabilities to more airports in the national airspace system (NAS) to ensure that airports of all sizes are equally protected. The FAA selected Saab at Nashville International Airport to be one of the first SAI implementations. As part of the program, Saab has deployed its Aerobahn Runway and Surface Safety solution which provides air traffic controllers with a real-time map display of the airport and surrounding airspace. In addition to the base requirements, Saab’s SAI solution also supports automated visual and audible safety alerting using Saab’s proven Safety Logic.
“The FAA’s focus and agility on the SAI program has been nothing short of remarkable,” said Robert Brown, Director of Portfolio, Sales, and Strategy at Saab, Inc. “It’s clear they are fully committed to improving surface safety across the NAS. And with the structure the FAA put in place, Saab can deliver more than basic situational awareness, including capabilities like our automated safety alerts that are already operational at the nation’s busiest airports.”
Saab’s Aerobahn Runway and Surface Safety solutions are supported by multiple surveillance options. For the FAA’s SAI program, Saab’s Trusted ADS-B Service is being utilized. It relies solely on cooperative sensors and reduces installation and maintenance costs by leveraging cloud-based processing. This builds on Saab’s decades of experience delivering mission-critical Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions to U.S. airports and airlines.
Saab’s SAI solution also leverages the significant investments and progress made by the FAA and NATCA on ASDE-X and ASSC. It adheres to the FAA’s Visual Specification for Airport Surface Applications (VSASA) and includes Saab’s Safety Logic. Safety Logic is the same advanced safety alerting capability utilized by ASDE-X and ASSC at 44 U.S. airports and has played a key role in numerous saves by air traffic control over the past 20+ years. Providing air traffic controllers with situational awareness is a major step forward for safety, but the added benefit of automated alerting is just as significant. Given the challenging demands placed on controllers today, the value of an automated safety net like Safety Logic cannot be overstated.
Saab’s Aerobahn Runway and Surface Safety system has a robust fusion engine and system integration capabilities that can easily incorporate additional surveillance sources. It also enables collaborative workflows with airport operators and airlines. Saab’s SAI solution not only satisfies the FAA’s minimal SAI requirements, but it also establishes a cost-effective path to provide air traffic controllers at every U.S. airport with the advanced class of safety tools that they and their passengers deserve. Saab and the FAA’s early success in Nashville, is the start.