FAA seeks industry input on cost-effective runway safety lighting systems

Summary points

• FAA issues RFI for new cost-effective runway safety lighting systems.
• The agency says current Runway Status Lights are effective but costly and disruptive to install.
• Agency seeks solutions deployable at 40–50 airports within 2–3 years.

WASHINGTON - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to industry for new cost-effective runway safety lighting technologies that could be deployed at airports across the country within the next two to three years. The agency states that the effort is designed to enhance situational awareness for pilots, air traffic controllers, and airport ground vehicle operators, while addressing the cost and installation challenges associated with existing systems.

“We want to make sure pilots and air traffic controllers across the country have the tools they need to keep planes moving safely and efficiently,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said. “A new runway safety lighting system will reduce the number of close calls and hazards on runways at numerous airports. Situational awareness provided by this system is vital in maintaining the safety of the National Airspace System.”

The current Runway Status Lights (RWSL) system is in operation at 20 major airports. RWSL integrates with surface surveillance systems and provides independent visual alerts by activating embedded in-pavement lights to signal when a runway is unsafe to enter, cross, or use for takeoff. While highly effective, the FAA notes that installation is complex, requiring runway closures, trenching, boring, and duct bank construction. These costs and disruptions make the system impractical for broader deployment.

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Scalable and modular

Through the RFI, the FAA is seeking commercially available or near-ready technologies that could be installed at 40 to 50 airports without the need for extensive runway construction. The agency wants to identify solutions that can directly signal to pilots when a runway is unsafe, while being scalable and modular for different airport environments. Candidate systems should also comply with federal cybersecurity standards, support long-term lifecycle maintenance, and offer cost estimates to demonstrate affordability.

The FAA said responses should include technical architecture, integration details, deployment timelines, and construction requirements, as well as options for alternative approaches to in-pavement lighting. Solutions that can be operational by the end of 2025 are of particular interest.

Submissions are due by 25 September 2025 at 4 p.m. EDT. The primary point of contact for this RFI is Patrick Weare, who can be reached at [email protected]. More information is available at https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/4c3e06ab04e0443eaa493e31a13d6504/view.