Regulations & Safety
Honeywell SURF-A Enhances Runway Safety with Real-Time Alerts
Honeywell’s SURF-A cockpit software uses GPS/ADS-B to prevent runway incidents, adopted by Southwest Airlines fleetwide. FAA certification pending for 2025 deployment.
Runway safety remains one of the most critical aspects of modern aviation. With aircraft operating in increasingly congested airspace and airports, the risks associated with runway incursions, excursions, and misidentifications have become a focal point for aviation authorities and airlines alike. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), runway incursions are among the top safety concerns globally, prompting the industry to adopt advanced technologies that enhance situational awareness and reduce human error.
Honeywell Aerospace Technologies, a long-standing leader in avionics innovation, has introduced Surface Alert (SURF-A), a next-generation cockpit alerting software designed to prevent ground-based incidents before they escalate. SURF-A leverages GPS, Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B), and real-time analytics to detect potential runway conflicts and alert pilots directly through visual and aural cues. This system represents a significant evolution in cockpit safety, building on Honeywell’s legacy systems like the Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) and SmartRunway/SmartLanding solutions.
The significance of SURF-A extends beyond its technological sophistication. As airlines like Southwest Airlines commit to fleetwide adoption of Honeywell’s safety systems, the aviation industry is witnessing a paradigm shift toward proactive, data-driven safety protocols. These developments not only enhance pilot decision-making but also align with broader regulatory and operational goals aimed at achieving zero-incident runway operations.
At the heart of SURF-A is its ability to detect potential runway conflicts within a 30-second window. By continuously monitoring aircraft positions using ADS-B and GPS data, the system identifies when another aircraft is on or near the same runway and could pose a threat. This predictive capability allows pilots to take corrective action before a critical situation develops.
Unlike traditional systems that primarily alert air traffic control, SURF-A provides immediate cockpit alerts. These alerts are both visual and aural, ensuring that pilots are not only aware of the threat but can respond swiftly. This direct communication channel is crucial in situations where every second counts, such as during low-visibility conditions or high-traffic operations.
Honeywell has tested SURF-A extensively on its own Boeing 757 aircraft, demonstrating the system’s capability to recognize and alert pilots of potential incursions in real flight conditions. These trials have validated SURF-A’s effectiveness and paved the way for broader adoption once certification is secured, expected in 2025 pending FAA approval.
“Even one runway incursion, excursion or wrong-surface incident is one too many. SURF-A adds an ‘extra set of eyes’ in the cockpit to prevent runway accidents.”, Jim Currier, President, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies
SURF-A is designed to complement existing Honeywell systems, particularly EGPWS and TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System). As a software update, it can be integrated into aircraft already equipped with these systems, reducing the need for extensive hardware modifications. This makes it a cost-effective solution for both new aircraft and retrofits.
The software’s visual interface is streamlined to minimize pilot workload while maximizing clarity. Alerts are displayed in a manner consistent with other cockpit systems, ensuring that pilots can interpret and respond to them intuitively. This user-centered design supports rapid decision-making during critical flight phases such as taxiing, takeoff, and landing. Honeywell’s approach to layered safety, combining terrain awareness, traffic alerts, and now surface movement monitoring, creates a comprehensive safety net. This integration aligns with ICAO’s global runway safety initiatives and demonstrates how avionics can evolve to meet emerging operational challenges.
Southwest Airlines, the world’s largest operator of Boeing 737 aircraft, has announced a fleetwide installation of Honeywell’s SmartRunway and SmartLanding systems, which serve as the foundation for SURF-A. This move encompasses over 700 aircraft and underscores the airline’s commitment to operational safety.
According to Southwest’s Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson, “Safety is at the heart of everything we do. Honeywell’s software will provide our pilots with enhanced situational awareness to ensure the highest level of safety while operating on runways throughout the network.” This endorsement highlights the trust that major carriers place in Honeywell’s technology.
Globally, airlines are under increasing pressure to meet stricter safety standards while managing larger fleets and denser traffic. The adoption of SURF-A and similar systems represents a proactive approach to mitigating risks that have long plagued runway operations. As more airlines follow Southwest’s lead, the industry could see a significant drop in runway-related incidents.
The development and deployment of SURF-A align with international safety mandates and recommendations. Organizations like ICAO and the FAA have emphasized the importance of reducing runway incursions as part of their safety management frameworks. By providing pilots with real-time, actionable data, SURF-A supports these objectives and could become a standard feature in future regulatory guidelines.
Furthermore, the system’s reliance on ADS-B and GPS data reflects a broader industry trend toward performance-based navigation and surveillance. These technologies are foundational to the FAA’s NextGen and Europe’s SESAR initiatives, which aim to modernize air traffic management through digital innovation.
As certification progresses, SURF-A could be mandated for certain classes of commercial aircraft or high-traffic airports. This would mirror the evolution of EGPWS, which transitioned from optional to required equipment in many jurisdictions following its proven safety benefits.
SURF-A’s software-based architecture makes it inherently scalable. Airlines can deploy it across fleets without the logistical and financial burdens of hardware overhauls. This flexibility is particularly valuable for operators of mixed fleets or those operating in regions with varying infrastructure capabilities. Honeywell continues to invest in refining the system based on pilot feedback and real-world testing. Future iterations may incorporate machine learning algorithms to improve threat detection accuracy or integrate with airport surface surveillance systems for enhanced situational awareness.
Additionally, the technology could extend beyond commercial aviation. Business jets, cargo aircraft, and even military platforms could benefit from the added layer of safety provided by SURF-A, expanding its impact across the aviation ecosystem.
Honeywell’s SURF-A system represents a significant advancement in runway safety technology. By providing direct, real-time alerts to pilots, it addresses a critical gap in existing safety protocols and enhances situational awareness during the most vulnerable phases of flight. The system’s integration with existing avionics, combined with its software-based deployment model, positions it as a practical and scalable solution for airlines worldwide.
As aviation continues to grow in complexity and volume, technologies like SURF-A will play an essential role in maintaining safety standards. With regulatory support and industry adoption, the future of runway operations looks increasingly secure, driven by innovation, data, and a commitment to zero-incident aviation.
What is SURF-A? How does SURF-A differ from other runway safety systems? When will SURF-A be available? Can SURF-A be added to existing aircraft? Which airlines are adopting Honeywell’s runway safety technology?
Enhancing Runway Safety with Honeywell’s SURF-A Technology
The Mechanics Behind SURF-A
Real-Time Hazard Detection
Integration with Existing Systems
Proven Use Cases and Industry Adoption
Broader Implications and Future Outlook
Regulatory and Industry Alignment
Technological Evolution and Scalability
Conclusion
FAQ
SURF-A (Surface Alert) is a cockpit alerting software developed by Honeywell that provides real-time aural and visual alerts to pilots about potential runway conflicts.
Unlike systems that only alert air traffic control or provide visual cues, SURF-A sends direct alerts to pilots using both sound and visuals, allowing faster reaction times.
SURF-A is currently undergoing testing and is expected to be available for new aircraft and retrofits starting in 2025, pending FAA certification.
Yes, SURF-A will be available as a software update to existing Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning Systems (EGPWS) and TCAS-equipped aircraft.
Southwest Airlines has announced the fleetwide adoption of Honeywell’s SmartRunway and SmartLanding systems, which are compatible with SURF-A.
Sources
Photo Credit: Honeywell