The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced plans to equip ground vehicles with transponders at the region’s three major airports. The tracking devices will be installed on fire trucks and other rescue vehicles, allowing air traffic controllers to receive precise location data through continuous signals transmitted to control towers.
The decision follows a collision that occurred at LaGuardia Airport on March 22 between a landing Air Canada jet and a fire truck. The accident resulted in two pilot fatalities and several other injuries. The National Transportation Safety Board identified the absence of transponders on ground vehicles as a notable factor in its preliminary investigation report released the week after the incident.
According to NTSB findings, the fire truck proceeded past red warning lights after an air traffic controller had cleared it to cross the runway. Additional complications at the time included unusually heavy air traffic and an emergency situation involving another aircraft.
LaGuardia Airport operates an Airport Surface Detection System called ASDE-X, which integrates radar information with transponder data from aircraft and ground vehicles along with other surveillance inputs to create a comprehensive display for controllers. The system also includes collision-avoidance alerts. The Federal Aviation Administration has recommended that major airports nationwide adopt transponder technology and has offered financial assistance to support implementation. The Port Authority stated it will collaborate with the NTSB during the ongoing investigation while working with the FAA to enhance airfield safety practices. Besides LaGuardia, the authority manages Kennedy Airport in New York and Newark Liberty Airport in northern New Jersey.
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