Southwest Adds Honeywell Runway Safety Tech to 737 Fleet
Southwest Airlines is upgrading its entire Boeing 737 fleet with Honeywell’s SmartRunway and SmartLanding safety systems, aiming to enhance pilot situational awareness during critical phases of flight. The Dallas-based carrier has already outfitted over 95% of its fleet with the technology, with full implementation expected soon.
The system works through Honeywell’s Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) and helps reduce the risk of runway incursions, excursions, and wrong-surface takeoffs or landings. It delivers aural and visual alerts to pilots during taxi, takeoff, and landing, improving awareness of runway conditions and aircraft position.
The upgrade comes in the wake of two high-profile incidents involving Southwest flights—one that nearly departed from a taxiway in Orlando and another that took off from a closed runway in Portland, Maine. Both cases are under investigation by the FAA and NTSB.
Honeywell’s Thea Feyereisen said the system alerts pilots if they’re about to land or take off on the wrong surface, or if their approach is too fast or too high. The upgrade process is seamless for aircraft already equipped with EGPWS and requires minimal pilot training, typically via internal memos and video briefings.
Southwest COO Andrew Watterson said, “Safety is at the heart of everything we do. This technology will further enhance our runway operations.”
Southwest pilots—nearly 11,000 in total—will receive additional guidance on the system. The airline was also an early adopter of Honeywell’s avionics for its 737 MAX fleet. Honeywell’s next-gen system, SURF-A, is in testing and expected by 2026.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, airlinegeeks.com