Northrop Grumman's Norden Systems unit has received $20 million from the US Federal Aviation Administration to produce and install 20 airport-movement area safety systems (AMASS) at major US airports. The safety device, which is integrated with the ASDE-3 surface surveillance radar, automatically alerts controllers to potential runway conflicts under all weather conditions. Alerts are provided through a combination of aural and visual warnings. AMASS prototypes have undergone testing at San Francisco International, Boston's Logan International and Atlanta's Hartsfield International. Installation of the Ìrst production AMASS will begin in 1998, with all 20 systems to be operational by the end of 1999.
Source: Flight International
