Saab technology helps enhance safety at Syracuse's airport
Every day, thousands of travelers pass through Syracuse Hancock International Airport. They are students returning home, families heading on vacation, business travelers connecting to cities throughout the country, and service members traveling to and from Fort Drum and National Guard and Reserve bases nearby.
While most passengers are focused on reaching their destination, behind the scenes, technology developed by Saab just a few miles away is helping air traffic controllers maintain a safe view of aircraft and vehicle activity across the airfield.
Saab’s Aerobahn Runway and Surface Safety service is now operational at Syracuse, bringing advanced airfield surveillance technology to one of Central New York's most important transportation hubs.
The deployment is part of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI), launched in 2023 to bring surface surveillance capabilities to airports across the country that previously lacked them.
Historically, advanced runway safety technology like this was only available at the nation's largest and busiest airports. Through the FAA's Surface Awareness Initiative, midsize airports like Syracuse now have access to the same type[RB1.1] of enhanced situational awareness technology that helps air traffic controllers safely manage aircraft and vehicle movements in all weather conditions.
The Aerobahn system accurately tracks aircraft and vehicle movements across the entire airfield in real time, providing air traffic controllers with a comprehensive picture of runway activity. At Hancock, where lake-effect snow and other challenging weather can reduce visibility, the technology provides enhanced situational awareness to help support safe and efficient airfield operations.
"Syracuse Hancock International Airport serves as the front door to Central New York, and the safety of every person who travels through it matters," said Rob Brown, Director of Portfolio, Sales, and Strategy at Saab. "Saab has partnered with the FAA for more than 30 years to advance surface safety across the national airspace and bringing that expertise to our own community is a responsibility we take seriously. We are proud to play a role in keeping Syracuse and its travelers safe."
Syracuse joins a growing list of nearly 50 airports already running the Aerobahn system, with that number expected to grow to 63 by this fall. Saab's air traffic management expertise spans more than three decades, serving as a trusted FAA partner on major surface safety programs including Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model X (ASDE-X), Airport Surface Surveillance Capability (ASSC), and Runway Status Lights (RWSL). Saab’s cloud-based Aerobahn solution can be deployed in as little as 90 days, helping accelerate modernization efforts across the national airspace system.
From its East Syracuse facility, Saab employees contribute to programs that support national defense, public safety, and transportation systems across the globe. The company's solutions can be found from Qatar to Australia, and now right in its own backyard, Projects like the Syracuse deployment demonstrate how that expertise can directly benefit the community where many Saab employees live and work.