Transponders to aid in locating ground vehicles at major airports in the New York region, including fire trucks, are set to be installed following a recent collision between a fire truck and an Air Canada jet at LaGuardia Airport. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced that these trackers will offer air traffic controllers more precise information by continuously transmitting signals to the control tower.
The National Transportation Safety Board highlighted the absence of transponders in a preliminary report on the incident, which resulted in the tragic deaths of two pilots, Mackenzie Gunther, 24, and Antoine Forest, 30, and injuries to several others. The collision occurred after an air traffic controller cleared the vehicle to cross the runway, despite the truck passing red warning lights and facing heavy air traffic and an emergency situation involving another plane at the time.
LaGuardia Airport is equipped with Airport Surface Detection Systems (ASDE-X), a technology that merges radar data with transponder information from both aircraft and ground vehicles to provide a comprehensive display for controllers. This system is designed to alert tower personnel of potential collisions in advance.
In response to the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration recommended the installation of transponders at major airports nationwide, with many already complying with the directive. The Port Authority has emphasized its commitment to enhancing safety measures for airfield vehicles, including investing in systems to monitor vehicle movements and enhance operator awareness.
Apart from LaGuardia Airport, the Port Authority oversees operations at John F. Kennedy Airport and Newark Liberty Airport. James Allen, the Port Authority’s chief communications officer, affirmed the importance of transponder technology in bolstering visibility and safety within airfield operations. The agency continues to collaborate with the NTSB and FAA to reinforce safety protocols.