Technology

Development &

Prototyping Division

ANG-C5

RIRP Portfolio Update

Presented to: REDAC

Date: August 13, 2015

Federal Aviation

Administration
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Federal Aviation

Administration

Runway Incursion Reduction Program (RIRP)

Why do we do what we do?

• FAA Strategic Priority 1 – Make Aviation Safer and Smarter

• FAA Performance Metric 4 – Reduce Category A & B (most serious) 

runway incursions to a rate of no more than 0.395 per million 

operations, and maintain or improve through FY 2018.

• FAA Mission Needs Statement 323 (circa 1998):

• Runway Incursions (RIs) are a major problem affecting the safe operations of the 

nation’s airports.

• Destination 2025 (2011)

• 2018 Performance Metrics: Maintain the rate of serious runway incursions at or 

below 20 per 1000 events.

• NTSB Recommendation A-91-30 

• Calls for the FAA to implement equipment aimed at reducing runway incursions
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Federal Aviation

Administration

Runway Incursion Reduction Program (RIRP)

Why do we do what we do?

March 27, 1977: Fatal collision between two Boeing 747 

passenger aircraft on the runway of Los Rodeos Airport on 

Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands. This crash killed 583 people, 

making it the deadliest accident in aviation history.

August 27, 2006: Comair Flight 5191 Lexington, KY, to Atlanta, 

GA, crashed on takeoff, just past the end of the runway, killing all 

47 passengers and two of the three crew. The aircraft was 

assigned Runway 22 for the takeoff, but used Runway 26 

instead.
Runway Incursion Reduction Program (RIRP)

Why do we do what we do?

April 24, 2014: Two planes nearly collided at Newark Liberty International Airport. 

United Express Flight 4100 was cleared to take off on runway 4R at the same time 

United Airlines Flight 1243 was landing on the intersecting Runway 29. The two 

aircraft passed within yards of each other.

July 6, 2014: A passenger jetliner preparing to leave Barcelona’s El Prat airport 

taxied across a runway where another was about to land, forcing the arriving plane 

to abort its landing and climb sharply to avoid a possible disaster.

March 2015
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Federal Aviation

Administration

Runway Incursion Reduction Program (RIRP) 

Projects

• Low Cost Ground Surveillance (LCGS) - Cancelled by JRC

• Enhanced FAROS (eFAROS) – Successful June 2014 Flight 

Check at BOS; pending approval for OpEval test from AFS.

• Runway Safety Assessment (RSA) – conducting RI Prevention 

Shortfall Analysis; conducting on-site technical assessments for 

technologies selected from FY14 Market Survey.

• Small Airport Surveillance Sensor (SASS) – evaluating technical 

performance of phased array surveillance sensor developed by 

MIT Lincoln Lab for real-time movement area coverage.
Federal Aviation

Administration

Low Cost Ground 

Surveillance (LCGS)

RIRP Portfolio Update

Presented to: REDAC

Date: August 13, 2015
7

Federal Aviation

Administration

• In August 2007, Runway Safety Call to Action identified LCGS as potential technical solution 

to increase in Runway Incursions

• Runway Incursion Reduction Program Office requested LCGS Investment Analysis 

Readiness Decision (IARD) from the Executive Council on May 26, 2009.

• ATO EC delayed making a final decision; EC met again on July 7, 2009, and made the 

following decision: 

• Directed team to continue with contract awards for the prototype systems 

• Directed team to operate the prototype systems for two years

• Directed team to return to the EC with results of the operational evaluation

• JRC meeting 6/19/2013 determined that LCGS not viable as a program

• All 5 sites were powered down by 09/01/2013

• All LCGS displays were removed from ATCT cabs as of 9/30/2013

• All LCGS cameras were removed from ATCT and radar towers as of 2/28/2014

• Final equipment and infrastructure inventory and bar coding was completed as of 

11/01/2014

LCGS Pilot Program History and Status
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Federal Aviation

Administration 8

Federal Aviation

Administration

Notional Removal Schedule
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Federal Aviation

Administration

Enhanced Final Approach Runway 

Occupancy Signal (eFAROS)

RIRP Portfolio Update

Presented to: REDAC

Date: August 13, 2015
10 Federal Aviation

Administration

Enhanced-Final Approach Runway Occupancy Signal (eFAROS) uses

surface surveillance with augmented safety logic to provide a visual

warning to pilots on final approach that the runway is occupied and unsafe

for landing. It does this by flashing the Precision Approach Path Indicator

(PAPI) lights.

AJW-143 is providing design and engineering support for the development

and implementation of eFAROS at RWSL test locations

Partners / Stakeholders

• Air Traffic Controllers

• AJW-14

• Airport Authorities (DFW, BOS)

• Local Tech-Ops personnel

Enhanced Final Approach Runway 

Occupancy Signal (eFAROS)
11 Federal Aviation

Administration

Milestone Schedule

Develop quicklook report on shadow operations testing 

of the prototype eFAROS system at BOS. Complete

Complete installation of the FPAPI units at BOS.

Complete Complete

Conduct flight check of the FPAPI units installed at 

BOS, and commence 90-day Operational Evaluation of 

the prototype eFAROS system at BOS

Flight check 

Completed 

06/22/2014

FY 14 Milestones Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
12 Federal Aviation

Administration

Milestone Schedule

Commence operational evaluation at BOS (pending 

final AFS consultation/decision).

Complete report on 90-day prototype Operational 

Evaluation test of eFAROS at BOS.

Develop preliminary requirements document, 

final benefit/cost analysis report (BCAR) and 

IARD documents for JRC readiness decision.

FY 15 Milestones Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
13 Federal Aviation

Administration

FY14/15 eFAROS Accomplishments & Activities

• Conducted successful Flight Check of eFAROS at BOS – Jun 2014

• Completed eFAROS systems engineering check at BOS – Sep 2014

• AFS-400 leadership expressed concerns about eFAROS testing at BOS; 

and more significantly, the eFAROS ConOps that dates back to 2001 –

they no longer concur with the use of Flashing PAPI’s as annunciators 

– Mar 2015

• In a meeting with ANG-C5 leadership on 3/3/15, the RIRP sponsor, AJI14 indicated that they will no longer support the eFAROS program or 

contest AFS-400 concerns – Mar 2015

• Awaiting final decision from ATO senior management on project –

Jul/Aug 2015
Federal Aviation

Administration

Runway Safety 

Assessment (RSA)

RIRP Portfolio Update

Presented to: REDAC

Date: August 13, 2015
15 Federal Aviation

Administration 15 Federal AviationAdministration

Runway Safety Assessment (RSA)

• RSA is intended to address the NTSB recommendation A-00-66 

that states: “Require, at all airports with scheduled passenger 

service, a ground movement safety system that will prevent 

runway incursions; the system should provide a direct warning 

capability to flight crews. In addition, demonstrate through 

computer simulations or other means that the system will, in fact, 

prevent incursions.”
16 Federal Aviation

Administration

ANG-C Market Survey - Overview

• ANG-C5 issued a Market Survey on July 23, 2013 for Runway 

Incursion Reduction Technologies (Contract Opportunity ID: 

14673). 

• The Market Survey solicits input on feasible technologies from 

industry partners and interested vendors. This survey is not a 

formal contract solicitation and is not intended to result in a 

contract award.

• The intended outcome of the Market Survey is to evaluate one or 

more technologies which may be applied, or enhanced through 

additional research, to prevent runway incursions.

• Market Survey closed on Aug 23, 2013; a total of 30 qualifying 

responses were received.
17 Federal Aviation

Administration

ANG-C Market Survey - Assessment

• Evaluation of the responses was conducted from 10/31/13 to 

12/6/13.

• The responses received were evaluated by a team of 8 FAA 

employees and contractors from ANG-C and AJI, consisting 

of SME’s in:

– ATC

– Engineering & Technology

– Program Management

– Runway Safety 

• The outcome of the evaluation process is focused on 

categorizing the responses by:

– the technical maturity of the proposal

– research viability within a 3-year timeframe
18 Federal Aviation

Administration

Milestone Schedule

Perform technical evaluation of feasible 

technologies identified in Market Survey 

responses.

Complete

Develop Runway Incursion Prevention 

Shortfall Analysis report.

Develop report on proposed solution set for 

new Runway Incursion reduction 

technologies.

FY 15 Milestones Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1
19 Federal Aviation

Administration

RSA Accomplishments / Activities

• Conducted Technical Feasibility Assessment of Candidate RI prevention 

technologies identified during market survey evaluation process. Q2-

Q3FY15

• Undertake data-driven analysis of coded historical Runway Incursion 

incidents to categorize RIs by causal factors. Q2-Q4FY15

• Develop Runway Incursion Prevention Shortfall Analysis (RIPSA) report. 

Q4FY15

• Develop “right-site-right-size” report on proposed solution set for new 

Runway Incursion reduction technologies based on RIPSA report and 

candidate technologies deemed feasible for evaluation. Q1FY16
20 Federal Aviation

Administration

Candidate RI prevention technologies for 

Technical Evaluation
21 Federal Aviation

Administration

Proposed Technology

Microwave Barrier Detector (MBD) - ADB proposes using a combination of MDB and 

infrared sensors (IR) placed for localized surveillance at taxiway/runway intersections.

 Local sensor detects holding position overrun

ADB Airfield Solutions
22 Federal Aviation

Administration

Aeropath Technologies

Proposed Technology

Modified TCAS Mode S/C Interrogator- Aeropath proposes using its Airport 

Real Time Information (ARTI) system for ground surveillance at small to 

medium-sized airports. 
23 Federal Aviation

Administration

Proposed Technology

Passive Acoustic Sensor Technology (PAST) - BridgeNet International in 

partnership with Stevens University, proposes PAST for using for surface 

and airborne surveillance.

BridgeNet International
24 Federal Aviation

Administration

Neptec Technologies

Proposed Technology

Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) - Neptec proposes using its OPAL 

(Obscurant Penetrating Autosynchronous LiDAR) family of sensors in 

conjunction with its 3D change-detection software as a sensor system for 

surface surveillance.

OPAL LiDAR Sensor of Ottawa Airport
25 Federal Aviation

Administration

Safegate Airport Systems

Proposed Technology

Microwave Barrier Detector (MDB) - Safegate proposes using MDB sensors, part 

of their SafeBeacon system for localized surveillance at taxiway/runway 

intersections.
26 Federal Aviation

Administration

Searidge Technologies

Proposed Technology 

Searidge proposes using its IntelliDAR system, based on real-time video 

capture and processing for movement area surveillance.
27 Federal Aviation

Administration

Thales

Proposed Technology

Millimeter Wave Sensors MWS - Thales in partnership with Xsight Systems, 

proposes using Foreign Object Debris Detection (FODetect) technology that 

utilizes Surface Detection Units (SDUs) installed along both sides of the airport 

runway for surface surveillance. 
Federal Aviation

Administration

Small Airport 

Surveillance System 

(SASS)

RIRP Portfolio Update

Presented to: REDAC

Date: August 13, 2015
29 Federal Aviation

Administration

• SASS is a low-cost secondary surveillance solution

– Provides surface & airborne surveillance in airport vicinity

– Expected Surface accuracy ~30’, airborne targets ~20 nm out

• Potential benefits

– Provides improved controller traffic situation awareness

– Improved safety & efficiency at towered airports 

– Portability for disaster response (Haiti) & special events (Oshkosh)

• Key design features

– High accuracy phased array antenna design

– COTS equipment use - Software Defined Radio (SDR) modules

– State-of-the-art digital signal processing leveraged from DoD work

– Requires only two sensors installed on airport property

• Target airports

– GA airports with Class D airspace towers 

– High traffic non-towered airports

Small Airport Surveillance Sensor (SASS)
30 Federal Aviation

Administration

SASS System Diagram

SASS Master Unit SASS Slave Unit

SASS Remote Unit

Direct-to-pilot

Annunciators 

Safety 

Logic

Fusion

Tracker

Tracks

Alerts

Alerts
31 Federal Aviation

Administration

Modeled Surface Surveillance Error (ft)

(Hanscom Field in Bedford, MA)

30’ position error or less over entire surface movement area

SASS 

Sensor

SASS 

Sensor

Model Assumptions

Range error: 10’ (1 )

Azimuth error: 0.4 (1 )
32 Federal Aviation

Administration

SASS Sensor System

RAM

(128 GB ≈ 3 min recording)

8 GB

8 GB

8 GB

8 GB

8 GB

8 GB

8 GB

8 GB

3.2 Gbps

1 X300 (25 Msps)

GPS (10 MHz Ref, PPS)

1-GigE port 10

10-GigE port 2

8 N200s (10 Msps) 1-GigE ports 1-8

10-GigE port 1

1-GigE port 9

RAID SSDs

(5 TB ≈ 2 hrs continuous recording)

512 GB

512 GB

512 GB

512 GB

512 GB

2.56 Gbps 5.76 Gbps

8 GB

8 GB

8 GB

8 GB

8 GB

8 GB

8 GB

8 GB

Raid 

Controller 

(6 Gbps)

Thinkmate Server

1 X300 (25 Msps)

GPS (10 MHz Ref, PPS)

Boot SSDs

256GB

256GB

RAID 

Overhead

512 GB

512 GB

All hardware now on hand for both SASS sensors

Additional channel 

needed for receiving 

UAT messages

Intel Xeon Quad Core (3.5 GHz) Intel Xeon Quad Core (3.5 GHz)

512 GB

512 GB

512 GB

512 GB

512 GB
33 Federal Aviation

Administration

SASS Sensor Racks

SASS Sensor #2 Rack SASS Sensor #1 Rack
34 Federal Aviation

Administration

FY15 Hanscom Data Collection

Test vehicle 

with DGPS & 

transponder

MODSEF

(1.3 nm away)

ADS-B 

equipped

aircraft

• Installing sensors in vehicles with generators for FY15 

data collection pending semi-permanent site 

installations

• Truth sources: DGPS, Lincoln Mode S radar (MODSEF), 

ADS-B equipped targets of opportunity & video cameras
35 Federal Aviation

Administration

Milestone Schedule

Develop SOW and create new TASK for 

SASS project under current MIT LL contract Completed

Build and test SASS hardware platform 

Completed

Develop real-time signal processing 

software Completed

Perform surveillance data collection at BED

Demo real-time surface surveillance at BED 

using SASS.

FY 15 Milestones Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
36 Federal Aviation

Administration

FY15 SASS Accomplishments / Activities

• Built and tested SASS Master and Slave mobile units. Q2FY15

• Developed and tested real-time signal processing software. Q2-Q3FY15

• Conduct field tests at Hanscom Field (BED) using SASS Master & Slave 

mobile units. Q4FY15

• Perform analysis to evaluate the performance of the SASS system 

against truth data. Q4FY15

• Develop report on the performance of the SASS system against truth 

data. Q1FY16
37 Federal Aviation

Administration

FY16 RIRP Proposed 

Activities
38 Federal Aviation

Administration

• Complete annual technical and operational evaluation report of existing 

RIRP prototype systems.

• Complete annual report documenting results of human-in-the-loop (HITL) 

testing Human Factors (HF), safety logic, aircraft performance, or any 

uncertainty or deficiency pertaining to surface based RI indications. 

• Complete annual report on Runway Incursion (RI) prevention shortfall 

analysis.

• Complete annual report on testing of safety logic enhancements to 

Runway Incursion (RI) detection and prevention products.

• Publish the Project Plan and Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the 

utilization of a Small Airport Surveillance Sensor (SASS) as a sensor to 

drive the activation of direct to pilot alerting safety logic.
39 Federal Aviation

Administration

FY17 RIRP Proposed 

Activities
40 Federal Aviation

Administration

• Complete annual technical and operational evaluation report of existing 

RIRP prototype systems.

• Complete annual report documenting results of human-in-the-loop (HITL) 

testing HF, safety logic, aircraft performance, or any uncertainty or 

deficiency pertaining to surface based RI indications. 

• Complete annual report on testing of safety logic enhancements to 

Runway Incursion (RI) detection and prevention products.

• Complete report documenting candidate site selection for a system to test 

the utilization of a Small Airport Surveillance Sensor (SASS) as a sensor 

to drive the activation of direct to pilot alerting safety logic.

• Complete report on integration of a system to test the utilization of a 

Small Airport Surveillance Sensor (SASS) as a sensor to drive the 

activation of direct to pilot alerting safety logic.

• Publish the initial Project Plan and Resource Management Plan (RMP) 

for the utilization of an advanced ground surveillance sensor to drive the 

activation of direct to pilot alerting safety logic
41 Federal Aviation

Administration

BACKUP SLIDES
42 Federal Aviation

Administration 42 Federal AviationAdministration

LCGS - Steps For Site Breakdown

1) Removal/Relocation of existing equipment racks located in shelter

2) Removal / crating of existing radar equipment located in shelter, 

including the disconnection of radar waveguide/transceiver/motor 

controller

3) Removal of electrical conduits between LCGS radar tower and shelter

4) Removal of copper ground leads to ground counterpoise

5) Removal of Ice Bridge connecting LCGS tower to shelter 

6) Pull back of FAA single mode fiber from the shelter back to nearest 

pull box

7) Termination of existing power feed to FAA ATCT location (This will 

require support from the local Service Area)

8) Installation of Battery Operated Obstruction lights on LCGS radar 

tower until tower can be removed
Modeled Surface Surveillance Error (ft)

(Hanscom Field in Bedford, MA)

30’ position error or less over entire surface movement area

SASS 

Sensor

SASS 

Sensor

Model Assumptions

Range error: 10’ (1 )

Azimuth error: 0.4 (1 )
44 Federal Aviation

Administration

Siting Options with Obstruction 

Surfaces
Site #1: Pine Hill T-Hangars

Box truck obtained for second SASS unit

• Allows identical tall rack to be installed

• Towed generator for power

Telescoping tower with trailer

• 50’ extended height

• 15’ retracted height
Site #2: Salt Shed

• Antenna attached to 

truck

– 50’ extended, 20’ retracted

– Set up at SE corner of salt shed

– May attach antenna to shed 

(MassPort suggestion)

• Truck

– Contains data recording system

– Towed generator for power
Flight Facility Tower Cab

• Will be used to mimic BED tower 

– Good view of runways & taxiways (85’ tall)

– Near actual tower (550’)

View of airfield to North from Flight Facility tower cab