Saab Sensis, based in Syracuse, N.Y., was awarded a five-year contract for FAA’s Airport Surface Surveillance Capability (ASSC) program. FAA has incrementally funded $5 million of the $54 million, five-year contract. In addition, options for deliveries beyond the five-year period are valued at $65 million, for a total contract value of $119 million.
ASSC is a program that will bring enhanced surface situational awareness and advanced warning of potential runway incursions to nine U.S. airports for increased safety and efficiency, including options for additional sites. Each ASSC deployment will incorporate Saab Sensis multilateration, safety logic conflict detection and alerting software, air traffic controller working positions, and recording/playback functionality. ASSC will process Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) data along with other sensor sources for a single, fused view of the airport runways and taxiways. In addition, the flexible nature of the ASSC system architecture enables future airport surface safety enhancements, such as Runway Status Lights (RWSL), and airport surface movement data distribution to other approved systems and users.
FAA has indicated the following airports to receive ASSC: Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (Alaska), Andrews Air Force Base (Maryland), Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (Kentucky), Cleveland Hopkins Airport (Ohio), Kansas City International Airport (Missouri), Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (Louisiana), Pittsburgh International Airport (Pennsylvania), Portland International Airport (Oregon), and San Francisco International Airport (California).
“Through ASSC, Saab Sensis will draw on its successful ASDE-X program and strong working relationship with the FAA to improve the surface safety at nine more U.S. airports. The system uses technologies already certified for use in the National Airspace System for an efficient, cost-effective solution,” said Ken Kaminski, vice president and general manager of Saab Sensis. “This program further strengthens Saab Sensis’ position as the world leader in Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control Systems and surface conflict detection and alerting with more than 50 sites worldwide.”