Airport Movement Area Safety System
Encyclopedia
The Airport Movement Area Safety System (AMASS) visually and aurally prompts tower controllers
Air traffic controller
Air traffic controllers are the people who expedite and maintain a safe and orderly flow of air traffic in the global air traffic control system. The position of the air traffic controller is one that requires highly specialized skills...

 to respond to situations which potentially compromise safety. AMASS is an add-on enhancement to the host ASDE
ASDE-X
Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model X, or ASDE-X, is a runway-safety tool that enables air traffic controllers to detect potential runway conflicts by providing detailed coverage of movement on runways and taxiways...

-3 radar that will provide automated alerts and warnings to potential runway incursion
Runway incursion
A runway incursion is an incident where an unauthorized aircraft, vehicle or person is on a runway. This adversely affects runway safety, as it creates the risk that an airplane taking off or landing will collide with the object...

s and other hazards. AMASS extends the capability of the ASDE-3 and enhances surface movement safety.

The system operates with ground and approach sensor systems to ascertain aircraft locations in approaching and ground movement situations. It uses airport radars, state-of-the-art signal processing, and advanced computer technology to improve airport safety.

In this program, 40 systems will be delivered. AMASS is manufactured by Northrop Grumman Corporation.

The first AMASS system was tested in 1992 at San Francisco International Airport
San Francisco International Airport
San Francisco International Airport is a major international airport located south of downtown San Francisco, California, United States, near the cities of Millbrae and San Bruno in unincorporated San Mateo County. It is often referred to as SFO...

. However, the program came in for increasing criticism for being over-budget and behind schedule, with not a single unit being operational by the deadline (for installing 40 units) of August 2000. Software development issues and system adoption were mentioned as the key issues with the system. Finally, the first operational AMASS system was installed at San Francisco International Airport on June 18, 2001.

AMASS was demonstrated to work as designed in the near-collision of SkyWest Airlines flight 5741 and Republic Airlines flight 4912
2007 San Francisco International Airport runway incursion
The 2007 San Francisco International Airport runway incursion occurred around 1:30 pm PST on May 26, 2007 when SkyWest Airlines Flight 5741 , an Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia turboprop aircraft, nearly collided with Republic Airlines Flight 4912, an Embraer 170 Regional Jet, at the intersection...

, when it alerted the ATC 15 seconds prior to the estimated impact.
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