In the Spotlight

Personnel from the Airport Emerging Technology R&D Section (ANG-E263) conducted testing at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to evaluate the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for documenting aircraft incident and accident scenes at airports. This testing was conducted in partnership with DFW’s Fire Training Research Center (FTRC) under an existing cooperative research and development agreement. The research team assessed the effectiveness of various visual and thermal camera payloads, imagery collection parameters, and software applications in a variety of simulated accident scenarios. The results of this testing will be used to inform future Office of Airports policy and standards. 

Thermal Mapping Testing at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport

Joseph Healey | ANG-E263

Members of the Airport Emerging Technology R&D Section researched the integration of autonomous ground vehicle systems (AGVS) in airport operations on January 20, 2026, at Sugarland (TX) Airport (SGR).  The emergence of autonomous systems that augment and/or replace traditional, manual ground service activities (e.g. baggage handling and transport, lawn mowing, aircraft marshaling, aircraft tugs etc.) has recently accelerated and the FAA seeks to ensure safe, consistent use and integration across US airports. SGR Airport Management and frontline Operations personnel hosted the research team on a tour of the airport and demonstrations of their autonomous grass mowing equipment, followed by a debrief and information exchange meeting.  This site visit is one among several scheduled to various airports that have incorporated the use of autonomous ground vehicle technology for airport operational use.  The research team is collecting information from early adopters of these technologies including domestic and international airports, as well as AGVS Original Equipment Manufacturers on how they utilize the systems and any lessons learned along the way.  A synthesis of this collected information will support the establishment of FAA guidance for airports on selection and use of such technologies in both nonmovement and movement areas.  Guidance may manifest as Bulletins, Engineering Briefs, and/or Advisory Circulars.

Ryan King | ANG-E263

A team of six researchers from Australian National Transport Research Organization (NTRO) and two visitors from Changi Airport Group Singapore Private Ltd visited the Airport Technology R&D Branch for a two-day, high-level technical visit that included tours of the National Airport Pavement Test Facility, the National Airport Pavement Materials Research Center, and NextGen Pavement Materials Laboratory. Topics of discussion focused on current Pavement research at ATR, NTRO, and pavement construction and management activities at Changi International Airport in Singapore. The visit focused on exploring collaborative opportunities in the area of airport pavement design, evaluation, use of innovative materials, and pavement management systems (PMS).

Jim Layton | ANG-E26

The Airport Emerging Technology R&D Section, alongside General Dynamics Information Technology Inc., collaborated with the City of New York Police Department (NYPD) Technical Assistance Response Unit to evaluate the effectiveness of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) within the Drone in a Box program, focusing on enhancing airport safety. This partnership, particularly relevant to LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport, aims to assess the viability of drones for various applications, fostering ongoing collaboration for future research.

Jim Layton | ANG-E26

A Paper entitled “Characterization of Fatigue Cracking Performance of Asphalt Mixes at the Federal Aviation Administration’s National Airport Pavement Materials Research Center’s Accelerated Loading Facility” by Thomas Bennert, Dario Batioja-Alvarez, Navneet Garg, Christopher Ericson, and Aarya Chaudhari was published in the journal of the Transportation Research Board.

Navneet Garg | ANG-E262