Three times as many aircraft accidents occur on the ground as in the air, says the Omaha Airport Authority (WO 02/089088). But only the largest airports can afford radar systems to track aircraft and trucks on the ground and prevent “runway incursions”. But the OAA reckons there is no need for such a high-tech solution. It suggests equipping ordinary runway lamps with simple microwave motion sensors, similar to those in speed camera traps. The Doppler sensors detect any motion nearby and can trigger red warning lights and sound a klaxon in the control tower if an aircraft takes a wrong turn off the runway – perhaps moving into a busy taxiway after landing.
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