A commercial aircraft approaches to land at San Diego International Airport as U.S. telecom companies, airlines and the FAA continue to discuss the potential impact of 5G wireless services on aircraft electronics in San Diego, California, U.S., January 6, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo
The White House will announce $26 million in fresh funds on Friday to boost U.S. aviation safety following a string of potentially catastrophic near miss accidents this year, according to Reuters.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will invest $10 million to boost controller situational awareness and prevent runway close-calls at additional airports by implementing surface surveillance equipment.
Last month, there was a near collision in August between a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 and a Cessna Citation 560X business jet in San Diego. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating seven runway incursion events since January.
Officials said the FAA will also spend $8 million to expand its terminal automation system to prevent incorrect runway landings that can result in close-calls and another $8 million to deploy a runway incursion memory aid device used by controllers for occupied and closed runways to 72 additional airports. The device provides visual and audible alerts to remind controllers to check the runway before issuing clearances.