Warning In The Cockpit Becomes New Hope To Prevent Incidents On The Airport Runway

Southwest Airlines, in the middle of landing on the run way (photo: x @SouthwestAir)

JAKARTA A series of near-collision incidents on the runway boosted new hopes for widespread adoption of cockpit warning technology. The latest system, named the SURF-A (Surface-Alert) made by Honeywell, is currently being tested and is expected to receive certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2026.

In a test flight in Kansas City last month, the system demonstrated its real function. As the Boeing 757 aircraft prepares to land, the sound alarm sounds loud in the cockpit: Traffic on runway! Traffic on runway! The warning comes as a Gulfstream jet is on the runway. The pilot then immediately canceled the landing to avoid a possible collision.

Even though it's just a simulation, the incident confirms how important a direct warning system is in the cockpit for aviation safety. SURF-A uses a combination of GPS, ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance 'Broadcast) data, and advanced analytics to detect potential collisions on the runway in the next 30 seconds.

Global Regulation And Pressure Push

The push for technology adoption is getting stronger after a number of major incidents, including collisions at Tokyo's Haneda Airport in 2024. Japan even submitted a special paper to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) forum for the cockpit warning to be used as a global safety standard.

The ICAO report places the collision or incursion on the runway as one of the top five risks in the world of aviation. The data show that the runway is involved in 42% of global accidents between 2019 and 2023. The FAA also recorded nearly five incidents of aircraft or objects mismoved on the runway every day throughout the 2024 fiscal year.

"This is an additional layer of protection," said Kirk Vining, Honeywell's senior test pilot. Giving the pilot a greater safety margin.

Big airlines like Southwest Airlines have started to feel the benefits. Since installing SURF-A in almost all of its 800 fleets, the Dallas-based company safety indicator has shown a significant increase.

Cost And Retrofitting Challenges

Although the benefits are clear, costs are the main barrier. This system is estimated to cost tens of thousands of dollars per plane, a fairly large amount, especially if it has to be retrofitting the old fleet.

"It's easier to apply on new planes," said Hassan Shahidi, CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation. But for the old fleet, the challenges are much bigger.

Honeywell actually launched a similar technology in 2012, namely smartRunway and smartLanding (Smart-X). But until now only about 20 world airlines, including Alaska Air, Air Canada, Southwest, and Emirates, have adopted it.

Honeywell is now pushing for the use of a combination of SURF-A and Smart-X as a complete package of runway safety. Although it will double costs, the company sees its value as still worth it. If people are afraid to fly, it actually harms the airline's business," said Thea Feyereisen, senior engineer of Honeywell Aerospace.

The question now: do airlines want to issue large investments without any regulatory mandate? The FAA has recommended that this system be mandatory for new aircraft, but decisions regarding the old fleet are still being pushed.

If international regulations really set the cockpit warning standard, then SURF-A could be an important milestone in lowering the incidence rate on the runway of one of the most vulnerable areas in the world of modern aviation.