Honeywell Pilots Test SURF-A Cockpit Alert System to Detect Runway Collision Threats

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Engineers are in the final testing phase of a cockpit alert system Honeywell Aerospace says could help prevent close calls on runways by warning pilots when another aircraft enters a runway and is on a collision course.

Called the Surface Alert System, or SURF-A, the technology provides two aural alerts to flight crews when an unauthorized aircraft or vehicle intrudes into the path of an aircraft that has been cleared for takeoff or landing. The system announces a warning 30 seconds before a predicted collision and a follow-up warning 15 seconds out. The automated voice call-out includes the phrase "traffic on runway." Honeywell test pilot Doug Rybczynski described the call-out as "very direct," and said that while 15 to 30 seconds may sound short, that span provides a meaningful margin at aircraft speeds.

Honeywell officials say SURF-A detects when an aircraft that is not authorized for the runway intersects the projected path of an authorized aircraft. When the system calculates a time-to-collision that crosses the 30-second and 15-second thresholds it triggers the corresponding aural alerts for the flight crew. The company presented the system to pilots during flight tests intended to evaluate alert timing, phrasing and pilot workload.

Runway incursions — situations in which an unauthorized aircraft, vehicle or person is on a runway — have been identified by regulators and industry groups as an ongoing safety concern. Technologies such as ground radar, surface movement guidance, and airport lighting aim to reduce those events, but pilots and air traffic controllers have continued to report close calls. Honeywell describes SURF-A as a cockpit-focused layer of protection designed to give flight crews an immediate, unambiguous prompt to assess and, if necessary, initiate avoidance maneuvers.

Honeywell provided audio examples of the alerts during demonstrations and incorporated pilot feedback on the timing and wording of the call-outs. Test pilots worked to evaluate whether the alerts reduce reaction time without causing undue distraction or nuisance warnings during complex approach and taxi operations.

Regulatory certification, airline procurement decisions and airport operational integration will determine how broadly and quickly a system like SURF-A is adopted. Industry adoption typically requires tests demonstrating reliability across different equipment types and airport environments, followed by formal approval from aviation regulators and aircraft manufacturers.

Honeywell said engineers remain focused on refining detection algorithms and alert integration with existing cockpit systems. Company representatives and test pilots emphasized that the system is intended to complement, not replace, the responsibilities of pilots and air traffic controllers in preventing runway conflicts. Further flight testing and operational evaluations are expected as Honeywell advances the program toward potential certification and commercial availability.