The increasing runway collision hazards in recent years are increasing interest in new safety technologies in aviation. Honeywell’s SURF-A (Surface Alert) system aims to prevent potential accidents by informing pilots seconds in advance with a “Traffic on the runway!” warning.
This technology attracted attention following incidents such as the accident at Tokyo Haneda Airport and the collision hazard at Chicago Midway last year.
Southwest Airlines was one of the first companies to start using this system and announced that it had achieved a significant improvement in safety performance.According to ICAO data, 42% of global accidents between 2019-2023 were runway-related. In the US, the FAA recorded an average of five runway violations per day in 2024 alone. Experts emphasize that this technology, which sends direct audible and visual warnings to the cockpit, offers an extra layer of safety compared to traditional air traffic control systems.
However, high costs are still a major obstacle. The system is said to cost “tens of thousands of dollars” per aircraft, making retrofitting difficult, especially in older aircraft fleets.
Nevertheless, experts argue that the cost remains “less than a penny” per passenger and offers an extremely cost-effective solution for safety. Airbus and Boeing are also known to be working on similar solutions. Experts note that airlines may be slow to adopt this system unless it is mandated by regulations. Airbus and Boeing are also known to be working on similar solutions. Experts note that airlines may be slow to adopt this system unless it is mandated by regulations.
