Casper airport first in nation to host new safety device tests
Casper (WNE) — Honeywell, the do-everything company with a portfolio spanning from national security to bathroom sanitation, announced it is testing a new security device at Natrona County International Airport.
Don’t worry, they’re not testing with passengers yet.
The new surface-alert system, abbreviated by the company to SURF-A, aims to provide pilots with audible and visual warnings when hazards are present on the runway, according to a statement from the Casper/Natrona County International Airport.
A test pilot cited in the statement indicated Casper was chosen because of a mixture of its runway configuration and the general lack of traffic at the airport, allowing the company to “challenge the technology” without being a “nuisance.”
The local airport is the first site to test this iteration of the safety system, but earlier versions have been piloted at airports across the world, the statement states.
The device uses automated GPS data called automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast data to locate planes with satellite information and “detect potential runway conflicts.”
Officials said the alert system can inform pilots and control staff as much as 30 seconds earlier than without.
This story was published on Oct. 14, 2025.