The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced plans to install advanced safety technology at 74 airports by the end of 2026 to help prevent runway incursions.
The Runway Incursion Device, a system designed to alert air traffic controllers when a runway is occupied, is already operational at four airports.
The FAA intends to roll out the system at 70 additional airports over the next 19 months.
This initiative comes amid heightened concerns over aviation safety, particularly following the Jan. 29 collision between a U.S. Army helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet near Reagan Washington National Airport, which resulted in 67 fatalities.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has pledged to overhaul the U.S. air traffic control system, replacing outdated technologies.
He is expected to request tens of billions of dollars from Congress to support these reforms.
The FAA, facing a persistent shortage of air traffic controllers and aging infrastructure, is also deploying additional safety systems, including the Surface Awareness Initiative and the Approach Runway Verification system, to enhance situational awareness at airports.