WASHINGTON - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is deploying new runway safety technology at 74 air traffic control towers to help prevent runway incursions. The Runway Incursion Device (RID) alerts controllers when a runway is occupied or closed, improving situational awareness and replacing older systems with a standardized device.
"The Runway Incursion Device is another vital tool to keep the flying public safe," said Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau.
RID operates at four airports, including Austin-Bergstrom International in Texas and Portland International in Ore. It will be activated at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International in Florida, Hollywood Burbank in Calif., and Boise Airport in Idaho within the next month. The FAA plans to complete deployment at 69 additional airports by the end of 2026.
Related: Garmin announces software solution to help avoid runway incursions
The system is a memory aid for controllers, who manually toggle a button to indicate runway occupancy. A red flashing light signals an active runway, while a green light confirms it is clear. An optional aural alert reminds controllers to verify runway status before clearing aircraft for takeoff or landing.
Safety initiatives
RID is part of the FAA’s broader surface safety initiative, including the Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI) and Approach Runway Verification (ARV) systems. SAI uses surveillance data to track ground traffic at airports without dedicated surface monitoring tools, while ARV provides visual and audible warnings when an aircraft is lined up to land on the wrong runway or airport.
The FAA developed the RID at the William J. Hughes Technical Center in New Jersey, replacing aging systems dating back to the 1980s. Each tower can customize RID’s settings to monitor up to eight runways, taxiways, and ramps based on local operational needs.
Jamie Whitney
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