Surveillance cameras on runway pass test

After a 15-month trial at Singapore Changi, a new surveillance system that detects foreign objects and debris on runways will be installed at Chicago O’Hare later this year.

Installed by aviation technology firm SITA, the system uses a series of cameras installed along the runway to constantly capture surface images. The images are sent back to computers, allowing airport officials to verify the presence of a foreign object and determine whether to deploy a clean-up crew.

Traditionally, airports have relied on radar and manual inspection to detect foreign objects on runways.

Umar Khan of SITA says testing at Changi showed that it was able to detect objects less than an inch in size from 330 yards away. Changi is installing the system on two of its runways.

The 2000 Concorde crash in France was determined to have been caused by runway debris. A metal strip on the runway caused a tire to explode on takeoff, damaging the supersonic jet.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2008-07-13-airport-checkin_N.htm

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