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With over $201 million in funding thanks to President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, 82 airports across the country will have airfield lighting systems installed. The money will fund projects to buy and install new lighting for taxiways and runways to keep operations safe and reduce risks from operating with low visibility or under night conditions.
"We're acting to improve lighting systems at 82 airports, an important part of keeping aircraft moving safely, no matter the time of day or weather," U.S Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. "These runway and taxiway lighting investments are just the latest way President Biden is improving our airports, which will benefit Americans now and for decades to come."
Buttigieg announced the news Tuesday at the Denver International Airport (DEN), where the lighting will be upgraded, a hot spot removed and a new runway will be constructed.
Other projects announced:
Denver International Airport in Colorado will receive $30.6 million to reconstruct Runway 17L/35R and Taxiway P lighting systems
Rogue Valley International Airport (MFR) in Medford, Oregon will use $3.4 million to install lighted visual aids to indicate a temporarily closed runway to meet FAA standards for airfield use and to prevent runway incursions. A new lighting vault will be installed to meet additional airfield lighting requirements and to reconstruct the existing Runway 14/23 lightning system.
Boeing Field/King County International (BFI) in Seattle, Washington will receive $2.6 million to install elevated runway guard lights on Runway 14R/32L to increase safety.
Dickinson/Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport (DIK) in North Dakota is using $2 million to install replacement Runway 7/25 end approach path identifier lights to make the airport more accessible and improve approaches to the runway ends. Taxiway D lighting will also be reconstructed.
"Ensuring our pilots can safely navigate runways and taxiways with adequate and improved lighting systems is a top priority as we continue our focus on runway safety initiatives," said Shannetta R. Griffin, P.E., Associate Administrator for Airports.??RELATED STORIES:Recent runway incursions cause alarm, stats show they are on the riseFAA panelists say complacency jeopardizes aviation safetySafety alert issued after series of runway incursions, FAA urges airlines and pilots to take actionFAA forms independent safety review team
As runway incursions steadily increase, the FAA has taken numerous steps to mitigate potential risks at airports across the country. On March 15 the FAA held a Safety Summit to address a string of runway incidents. Leaders from across the industry gathered to discuss potential causes and necessary actions to improve U.S. aviation safety. The FAA introduced several programs and technologies for pilots and controllers to increase situational awareness and reduce potential runway risks.
The NTSB is currently investigating numerous incidents that have occurred in 2023 including an incursion at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) when a landing plane and departing plane overlapped, coming within 100 feet of each other and endangering the lives of the 131 people on the two planes.
"Complacency is our enemy and vigilance is our responsibility," said Ed Bolen, NBAA President and CEO, at the Safety Summit in March.
After the Safety Summit, the FAA issued a safety alert for airlines and pilots on March 22. The alert informed members of the aviation community about the need for continued vigilance and attentive care to mitigating safety risks and was applicable to all aircraft operations under Title 14 Parts 91, 91k, 121, 125, 129 and 135. The agency pointed out several areas of focus, including reinforcing procedures and reporting safety concerns. In April, the FAA formed an independent safety review team to present its recommendations to the agency on how to increase air traffic safety. The team included members from various sectors in the industry including aviation safety and air traffic controllers, each with years of experience and expertise in their fields.RELATED STORIES:FAA gives $100m to 12 airports to reduce runway incursionsIndustry leaders talk runway incursions at NTSB roundtableFAA awards another $121m, calls for runway safety meetings to reduce risk of close calls
In May, the FAA awarded over $100 million to 12 airports in an effort to reduce runway incursions. The money went to projects like reconfiguring confusing taxiways, installing airfield lighting and constructing new taxiways. Within a few days, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy held an NTSB roundtable on the state of runway incursions. She was joined by colleagues in the Office of Aviation Safety and other industry leaders and organizations like the FAA. Homendy and the panelists addressed concerns over the rise of runway incursions since 2017 and the path forward.
In August, the FAA awarded over $121 million to airports around the country and scheduled runway safety meetings at 90 airports by the end of September. This second round of funding went toward fixing confusing taxiways, installing lighting, extending/widening runways or taxiways, constructing new connectors, constructing new taxiways, shifting taxiways and reconstructing service roads. Many of the changes would bring airport operations up to FAA standards and the changes were made in the continued effort to mitigate the risk of runway incursions. Some airports have also had Airport Surface Detection Equipment installed, like the Model X (ASDE-X), which is a surveillance system using radar, multilateration and satellite technology to allow controllers to track the surface movement of aircraft and vehicles.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is making a monumental investment in the country's infrastructure and competitiveness. The widespread funding will benefit the whole transportation industry, rebuilding roads, bridges and rails, upgrading and expanding public transit, modernizing ports and airports, improving safety, improving sustainability and investing in communities.