Mexican airline Aeroméxico has announced plans to equip its narrowbody fleet with a new technology that will alert pilots of potential collisions on the runway. The system, called Surface Alerts (SURF-A), is developed by Honeywell Aerospace and uses GPS data, ADS-B equipment, and software analytics to accurately pinpoint the location of potential hazards on the runway. It provides visual and aural warnings to pilots approximately 15-30 seconds before an anticipated impact, giving them enough time to take corrective action.

SURF-A acts as a “third set of eyes” in the cockpit, helping to improve situational awareness during taxi, takeoff, and landing. Aeroméxico plans to install the system on all of its Boeing 737 NextGen and 737 MAX aircraft, which amounts to over 100 planes in their fleet.

According to Jim Currier, president and CEO of Honeywell Aerospace, safety is a top priority for the company and they have designed this technology to help pilots avoid potentially fatal accidents. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to certify SURF-A for several Boeing aircraft types later this year and continue through 2027. Once approved, it will join Honeywell Aerospace’s existing suite of runway safety tools, including the Runway Awareness and Advisory System (RAAS) and SmartRunway and SmartLanding software.

SURF-A will be available as a software upgrade to Honeywell Aerospace’s Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) and Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), which are already in use on Aeroméxico’s 737 fleet. This new technology demonstrates Aeroméxico’s commitment to continually improving the safety and efficiency of their operations.