Final Approach Runway Occupancy Signal (FAROS)
 FAROS Runways at DFW (click to open new page) |
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be conducting an assessment of Final Approach Runway Occupancy Signal (FAROS), part of the Runway Status Lights System (RWSL), at Dallas Fort/Worth International Airport (DFW) in Dallas, Texas. The operational evaluation of FAROS at DFW will commence on or about September 9th, 2011, last 3 months, and will continue indefinitely if successful. FAROS has been installed at DFW to reduce the frequency and severity of runway incursions. At DFW, FAROS flashes the existing Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) lights to directly indicate to pilots on final approach that the runway is occupied and may be unsafe for landing.
FAROS is an experimental system that is autonomously driven by safety logic that receives aircraft location from surveillance radars (ASRs), surface detection radars (ASDE−3 or ASDE−X) and multilateration information from the ASDE−X surveillance system. FAROS is expected to reduce the occurrence of runway land over incidents and occupied runway accidents. The intent is to provide a signal to directly alert landing pilots of the runway occupancy, as per NTSB recommendation.
The FAA's assessment of FAROS at DFW will be conducted on runways: 18R/36L and 18L/36R on the West airfield, 17R/35L and 17C/35C on the East airfield. The existing PAPI lights have been modified to flash if runways 18R/36L, 18L/36R, 17R/35L, and 17C/35C are occupied and/or there is a potential conflict for the arriving traffic.
FAROS Pilot Action Points (click to open new page)
Pilot Protocol for FAROS
When FAROS acquisition point of 500 ft AGL is reached with flashing PAPIs
- Attempt to see traffic on runway
- If seen, evaluate the situation then proceed with caution
- If not seen, prepare to contact ATC at contact point
When FAROS contact point of 300 ft AGL is reached with flashing PAPIs
- Attempt to see traffic on runway
- If seen, evaluate the situation then proceed with caution
- If not seen, contact ATC to verify landing clearance and prepare for an immediate go-around
If ATC does not verify landing clearance promptly, go around
If ATC cancels the landing clearance, go around
Comprehensive training is provided in the briefings available for download below:
DFW FAROS Pilot Training
Training Card:
DFW FAROS - 8.5" x 11" Training Card
Poster:
DFW FAROS Poster
Take the FAROS Survey!
FAROS Survey