FAA Is Evaluating QinetiQ's Runway Debris Detection System

The FAA is evaluating QinetiQ's runway debris detection system at the TF Green Airport in Warwick, Rhode Island.

The QinetiQ technology, called Tarsier, consists of sensors housed in towers that resemble small lighthouse beacons, which provide both radar and visual imagery of a runway in virtually all weather and lighting conditions, and alerts appropriate personnel if FOD (foreign object debris) is detected.

For the FAA's six-month performance assessment at Warwick, the units are placed near the airport's north-south runway, and are connected to a computer display in the airport's operations center to provide a visual image.  Upon detection of FOD, an alarm sounds and an operations team can perform a visual inspection and recovery in a matter of minutes.

The TF Green Airport evaluation is being conducted on behalf of FAA by the University Of Illinois Center Of Excellence in Airport Technology (CEAT) under the direction of Professor Edwin Herricks.

QinetiQ's Tarsier system is presently in use at Vancouver and is being installed at Dubai.  10-13-2007.

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