Continuing a long tradition of leadership in safety innovation, Alaska Airlines will be the first major U.S. passenger carrier to equip its entire aircraft fleet with a system designed to help prevent accidents on runways and taxiways.
The Runway Awareness and Advisory System (RAAS), developed by Honeywell in 2003, provides pilots with audible alerts when they approach and enter taxiways and runways. The system confirms runway identifications to help ensure pilots are on the correct runway with enough distance to complete takeoff, and provides an audible warning if a pilot inadvertently accelerates for takeoff while on a taxiway.
Alaska Airlines began installing RAAS on its Boeing 737s in July after working with Honeywell to make sure the technology met the carrier’s specific operational needs. During the past three years, Alaska pilots have helped develop and test RAAS. Alaska’s fleet will be fully equipped with the aural alert software by the end of September.
