The FAA selected Saab to deliver the ASDE-X program to 35 of the busiest airports in the United States. This system includes cooperative and non-cooperative sensors, fusion surveillance and flight data, application of safety logic, and displays in the air traffic control tower. The system provides situational awareness to controllers and an enhanced level of safety through automated safety alerts. In other parts of the world, this solution is known as an Advanced – Surface Management, Control and Guidance System (A-SMGCS).
Based on the success of the ASDE-X program, Saab was chosen to extend the technology to nine additional airports: Anchorage, Andrews Air Force Base, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Cleveland, Kansas City, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Portland and San Francisco.
To further increase safety and extend alerts to pilots, the FAA worked with Saab to create the Runway Status Light (RWSL) program.
RWSL employs surface surveillance data to automatically illuminate lights at taxi hold positions and takeoff hold points to warn pilots of occupied runways or if an aircraft is landing for a more direct means of preventing incursions without increasing controller workload.
Recently, Saab worked with Leidos to supply electronic flight strips to the FAA through the Terminal Flight Data Management (TFDM) program. This technology is planned to be deployed to nearly 90 air traffic control towers. In addition, Saab is supplying core surface management technology which will be used to improve efficiency at many of the nation’s largest airports.