AIRFIELD. The aviation industry has always placed great emphasis on safety. Now, with the CORTEX SAFE-r runway status lights system the safety of runway operations has significantly improved. This innovative technology is a supplementary safety solution that provides enhanced visual aids to complement an airport’s core Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) network, providing an independent and autonomous solution for additional situational awareness.

Effective solution for enhancing safety

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has identified several factors that contribute to runway incursions, including communication breakdowns among the flight crew, air traffic control, and ground personnel, as well as inadequate situational awareness and misunderstandings of taxiway signage and markings.¹

The CORTEX SAFE-r system is a game-changer in the aviation industry, providing immediate awareness of runway occupancy and drastically reducing these risk factors that can lead to accidents. Whether it is an aircraft or vehicle on the runway, the RWSL system provides an instant visual warning, giving pilots and airport personnel the time they need to make the right decisions.

What sets CORTEX SAFE-r apart is its scalability

What makes CORTEX SAFE-r different from other runway safety systems is its scalability. The system can be customized according to an airport’s operations and hotspots with a greater risk of incursions, tailored to meet the unique safety needs of each airport. This makes it an even more effective solution for enhancing safety.

The CORTEX SAFE-r system acquires traffic information from surface and approach surveillance systems via the airport’s Multi Sensor Data Fusion (MSDF) system, and without any intervention from Air Traffic Control (ATC), automatically illuminates and extinguished the Runway Entrance Lights (REL) and Takeoff Hold Lights (THL) directly. By providing immediate visual feedback of runway occupancy, this reliable and seamless solution ensures quick response times and a complete view of the runway, mitigating communication breakdowns between flight crew and ATC.

Reducing threats by providing two additional safety layers

‘Runway incursions are among the most persistent threats to aviation safety. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) places runway incursions among the five highest-risk categories of events that must be addressed to mitigate the risk of aviation fatalities.’²

The CORTEX SAFE-r is helping to reduce these threats by providing two additional safety layers that work alongside the safety systems of any airport.

The REL lights offer instantaneous visual indications when it is unsafe to enter or cross a runway, while the THL lights illuminate to immediately inform the flight crew when it is not safe to take off. Notably, these safety measures do not require any communication or interaction with ATC.

Interested in learning more about the CORTEX SAFE-r Runway Status Lights system?

• Experience the future of runway safety first-hand by visiting our exhibit at the Airspace World 2024 event from March 19-21. Our team of experts will be available to answer all your questions about this cutting-edge solution that is setting a new standard for airport runway safety.
• Check out our product center for more information or get in touch with your local sales contact to learn more about the CORTEX SAFE-r Runway Status Lights system and how it can improve safety at your airport.
• Always feel free to reach out to your local sales contact.

Endnotes

¹ Ending Serious Close Call https://www.faa.gov/closecalls

² Global Action Plan for the Prevention of Runway Incursions (GAPPRI) https://www.eurocontrol.int/publication/global-action-plan-prevention-runway-incursions-gappri

Global Action Plan for the Prevention of Runway Incursions (GAPPRI)

ADB SAFEGATE is a company that provides integrated solutions to airports, air-lines, and ANSPs.  We are proud to be leading the way with innovative and smart Airside 4.0 solutions that turn airports into smart airports, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the passenger experience. Solutions include airfield lighting, power and control systems, airport and tower software, docking automation, apron management, and aftermarket services.  With over 1,400 employees and over 2,700 airports in over 175 countries, from the busiest and largest to the fastest-growing airports, ADB SAFEGATE is dedicated to making air travel safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly.