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New stop light system at LAX aims to prevent close calls
The Runway Status Lights flash red to warn pilots when it is unsafe to enter a runway. In this picture, the lights are located between the yellow sign and the landing jetliner, in the lighter colored concrete. The lights run parallel to the sign.
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Susan Valot/KPCC
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The new Runway Status Lights system at LAX is designed to prevent close calls.
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Susan Valot/KPCC
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Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Federal Aviation Administration Runway Safety Director Wes Timmons announce the installation of the Runway Status Lights system at LAX.
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Susan Valot/KPCC
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New stop light system at LAX aims to prevent close calls
A new system designed to prevent collisions on the ground at L.A. International Airport is ready for take-off. It's a series of red lights along taxiways dubbed "Runway Status Lights." KPCC's Susan Valot says airport and federal officials unveiled the new system at the busy airport today.
A new system designed to prevent collisions on the ground at L.A. International Airport is ready for take-off. It's a series of red lights along taxiways dubbed "Runway Status Lights." KPCC's Susan Valot says airport and federal officials unveiled the new system at the busy airport today.
Susan Valot: Up until now, LAX's reputation when it came to close calls was like airline food – pretty bad. It recorded the most runway incursions in the entire country. Now, the airport's spent about $7 million to add an extra layer of prevention for those close calls.
Vincent Chu of the Federal Aviation Administration manages the program. He says it's a series of red lights connected to the airport's ground surveillance radar.
Vincent Chu: It basically works like a traffic light system. Basically, when you see a red light, it means you ought to stop. And so that's the visual cue that you try to give to pilots.
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Valot: Chu says once the lights turn white again to signal "go," pilots still have to get the okay from air traffic control before they can start rolling again.
Chu: All we're trying to do is provide a visual warning to the pilot, but the pilot has to take the action.
Valot: LAX is the third airport in the country to install the "Runway Status Lights" system. San Diego and Dallas-Fort Worth were first. They slashed their close calls on the runways by as much as 70 percent. L.A. is the first to install the system on multiple runways.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
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