Major US airport getting new tech to prevent runway incidents

Key Points:

• The FAA has deployed a new Surface Movement Radar Model 4 at Newark Liberty International Airport to enhance tracking of aircraft and vehicles on runways and taxiways, improving safety in all weather and visibility conditions.
• This radar replaces a 30-year-old system and marks the fifth such deployment in the U.S., with plans to install 53 radars at the 44 busiest airports nationwide as part of a broader modernization effort.
• FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford emphasized the importance of onshoring production of this critical infrastructure, noting the new system is built in Syracuse, New York, and addresses maintenance and parts supply challenges of the outdated equipment.
• Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted the radar's ability to provide controllers with enhanced visibility during poor weather or nighttime conditions, thereby improving overall safety for air traffic operations.
• FAA data indicates a slight decrease in runway incursions in fiscal year 2026, with 1,102 incidents reported so far compared to 1,197 in the same period last year, reflecting ongoing efforts to reduce runway safety risks.