Other Highlights
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jared Irmas
June 11, 2009 (213) 978-0741
MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA UNVEILS NEW RUNWAY SAFETY LIGHTS AT LAX
LAX is the third airport in the country to install the new safety lights, which
prevent accidents and reduce runway incursions by as much as 70%
LOS ANGELES – Mayor Villaraigosa unveiled today newly-installed runway
safety lights at LAX that are designed to prevent airport accidents. The new
safety lights, known as Runway Status Lights, are a series of red lights
embedded in the pavement that warn pilots when it’s unsafe to enter or cross a
runway.
"With the installation of Runway Status Lights, LAX has established itself ahead
of the curve when it comes to passenger safety," said Los Angeles Mayor
Antonio Villaraigosa. "Through partnership with the FAA, Los Angeles will
continue to ensure the utmost safety on the LAX airfield."
Los Angeles World Airports paid for the $7 million system, expediting the
installation process by two years. The FAA installed the system and will maintain
it.
LAX is the third airport in the country to install Runway Status Lights, and the first
to install them on multiple runways.
"Runway Status Lights are a critical safety enhancement for LAX," said Wes
Timmons, the FAA's director of runway safety. "This system has proved that it is
highly effective in preventing potentially dangerous runway incidents from
occurring."
At Dallas-Fort Worth and San Diego’s Lindbergh Field, Runway Status Lights
have prevented accidents and reduced runway incursions by as much as 70%.
Runway incursions are incidents where an aircraft, vehicle, person or object
creates a collision hazard or prevents an aircraft from taking off.
Runway Status Lights are connected to LAX’s ground radar system. The lights
turn red if the ground radar detects a potential conflict between two aircraft or an
aircraft and a vehicle. They’re installed on eight LAX taxiways and one runway.
Clearance to cross or enter a runway must be given by air traffic control. When
the lights go off, the pilot or vehicle driver must verify the clearance before
proceeding.
Runway Status Lights are the latest safety enhancement at LAX. The FAA also
recently installed the most technologically advanced ground radar system, known
as Airport Surface Detection Equipment-X (or ASDE-X) in the air traffic control
tower. ASDE-X collects data from more sources than LAX’s previous ground
radar system, and provides air traffic controllers with color map displays showing
the location of all aircraft and vehicles on the runways and taxiways.
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June 11, 2009 (213) 978-0741
MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA UNVEILS NEW RUNWAY SAFETY LIGHTS AT LAX
LAX is the third airport in the country to install the new safety lights, which
prevent accidents and reduce runway incursions by as much as 70%
LOS ANGELES – Mayor Villaraigosa unveiled today newly-installed runway
safety lights at LAX that are designed to prevent airport accidents. The new
safety lights, known as Runway Status Lights, are a series of red lights
embedded in the pavement that warn pilots when it’s unsafe to enter or cross a
runway.
"With the installation of Runway Status Lights, LAX has established itself ahead
of the curve when it comes to passenger safety," said Los Angeles Mayor
Antonio Villaraigosa. "Through partnership with the FAA, Los Angeles will
continue to ensure the utmost safety on the LAX airfield."
Los Angeles World Airports paid for the $7 million system, expediting the
installation process by two years. The FAA installed the system and will maintain
it.
LAX is the third airport in the country to install Runway Status Lights, and the first
to install them on multiple runways.
"Runway Status Lights are a critical safety enhancement for LAX," said Wes
Timmons, the FAA's director of runway safety. "This system has proved that it is
highly effective in preventing potentially dangerous runway incidents from
occurring."
At Dallas-Fort Worth and San Diego’s Lindbergh Field, Runway Status Lights
have prevented accidents and reduced runway incursions by as much as 70%.
Runway incursions are incidents where an aircraft, vehicle, person or object
creates a collision hazard or prevents an aircraft from taking off.
Runway Status Lights are connected to LAX’s ground radar system. The lights
turn red if the ground radar detects a potential conflict between two aircraft or an
aircraft and a vehicle. They’re installed on eight LAX taxiways and one runway.
Clearance to cross or enter a runway must be given by air traffic control. When
the lights go off, the pilot or vehicle driver must verify the clearance before
proceeding.
Runway Status Lights are the latest safety enhancement at LAX. The FAA also
recently installed the most technologically advanced ground radar system, known
as Airport Surface Detection Equipment-X (or ASDE-X) in the air traffic control
tower. ASDE-X collects data from more sources than LAX’s previous ground
radar system, and provides air traffic controllers with color map displays showing
the location of all aircraft and vehicles on the runways and taxiways.
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