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Surface Awareness (SAI)
Why FlightLine
The FlightLine Surface Awareness System
The FlightLine system is a cutting-edge surface awareness solution designed to provide air traffic controllers with real-time visibility into aircraft and ground vehicle movements across an airport’s operational area. By leveraging Ground-Based Receivers (GBRs) and FAA-certified vehicle transponders (VTU-20s) receiving 978 MHz and 1090 MHz ADS-B data, FlightLine delivers precise tracking data for aircraft and ground-based vehicles to ATC tower displays, enhancing safety, efficiency, and situational awareness. This integrated system ensures full coverage of movement areas, enabling seamless coordination between controllers, pilots, and ground operators.
- Ground-Based Receivers (GBR): Up to 4 per airport for full movement area coverage
- ATC Displays: Installed at ground and local control positions for real-time awareness
- Vehicle Transponders (VTU-20): FAA-certified units for operational vehicles
- Scalable System: Cloud-based service fully supported by uAvionix customer service and training
What is SAI
The FAA’s Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI) enhances runway safety by delivering real-time aircraft and vehicle tracking to air traffic controllers.
Goal: Reduce runway incursions and improve situational awareness at airports across the U.S.
Partnered with uAvionix to deploy the FlightLine system as a cost-effective, radar-free solution.
Live at airports including Austin, Indianapolis, Daytona, West Palm Beach, Orlando Sanford, Miami Executive, Tampa, and Jacksonville.
32 additional airports scheduled for deployment in 2025.
A new era for air traffic control – from Archie League (courtesy National Archives) to today’s SAI equipped tower
FAA Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI)
Operational Deployments of FlightLine
KAUS
Austin Bergstrom International
KDAB
Daytona Beach International
KIND
Indianapolis International
KJAX
Jacksonville International
KPBI
Palm Beach International
KSFB
Orlando Sanford International
KTMB
Miami Executive Airport
KTPA
Tampa International
Vehicle Tracking with VTU-20
Increase Runway Safety for Vehicle Operators
Airports that leverage FAA-certified VTU-20 on their vehicles in the movement area will achieve additional benefit from Surface Awareness deployment in the ATC Tower and Flight Operations. A live view of vehicles on runways and taxiways will provide increased situational awareness to the controllers and will allow for optimized efficiency providing clearances to enter the movement area. Vehicle operators can leverage a mobile version of the system to view traffic in the airfield in reference to their own vehicle position. Acting as any other ADS-B transponder, the vehicle also becomes visible to all aircraft with ADS-B in and leveraging Electronic Flight Bags (EFB) and a uAvionix Sentry or skyEcho2, this will significantly enhance safety during low visibility and snow operations with increased vehicle presence on the runway.
VTU-20 is FAA-certified under AC 150/5220-26 and provides real-time visibility to ATC and other aircraft of snowplows, sweepers, ops vehicles, and more.
Vehicle transponders are eligible for FAA grants in the US for airports that have surface awareness deployed and can be ordered through uAvionix.
FAQ’s
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I was selected, how can we help?
Your airport authority can help by designating a Point of Contact (POC) to coordinate the site survey and installation process. Additionally, providing access to preferred electrical contractors who are familiar with airport infrastructure can streamline the deployment and reduce installation time.
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What are the benefits of vehicle transponders?
Equipping airport vehicles with FAA-certified VTU-20 Vehicle Movement Area Transmitter (VMAT) enhances situational awareness for air traffic controllers by making vehicle movements visible on ATC displays. This improves safety during low-visibility conditions, reduces the risk of runway incursions, and helps integrate ground operations more efficiently into the airfield environment.
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I have a Contract Tower, can I use SAI?
While SAI is currently being deployed at FAA-operated ATC towers, contract towers may be eligible to integrate similar situational awareness tools. uAvionix can provide additional guidance on potential solutions and deployment options for contract tower environments.
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Is the FlightLine Data Available for UAS Operations?
Yes, FlightLine Data from SAI deployments at airports is combined with data from a network of uAvionix ADS-B receivers (978 MHz and 1090 MHz) deployed through the United States and parts of Europe and the UK. FlightLine Data is avaiable via an API for integration with UTM or other systems for UAS operations, particularly those that require surveillance to permit BVLOS flights. For more information: Contact Us
