Prevent runway incursions with real-time access control
Touchway empowers control towers, airports, and operations teams to manage runway access with up-to-second precision, live vehicle tracking, ADS-B flight positioning, and intelligent safety alerts. Our system adds a new safety layer working in collaboration with other safety systems, currently being validated by ANAC and Fraport Brazil.
Real-time vehicle and aircraft positioning
See every vehicle and aircraft on your airport in real-time. Touchway combines GPS telemetry, ADS-B flight data, and geofencing to provide complete operational visibility.
GSE-204
On for 24.5 km/h
PPD
GSE-115
On for 18.2 km/h
TWY A
GSE-307
On for 31.7 km/h
PPD
GPS Vehicle Tracking
Track every ground support vehicle with sub-meter accuracy using GPS/GNSS positioning integrated with CAN bus telemetry.
Aircraft Visualization
Display all aircraft in your airspace with real-time position, altitude, speed, and flight information from ADS-B data.
Historical Playback
Review past operations with historical data playback for incident investigation, training, and process optimization.
Intuitive runway access control
Grant or revoke runway access with a single click. Control tower operators can manage vehicle authorization based on real-time runway status, incoming flights, and ground operations.
One-Click Authorization
Grant or revoke runway access instantly with intuitive controls. Each authorization is logged and tracked for compliance and audit trails.
Context-Aware Decisions
Make informed decisions with real-time data about incoming flights, aircraft on the ground, takeoffs, and live vehicle positions all in one view.
Automated Restrictions
Set rules to automatically restrict runway access during critical operations like takeoffs and landings, reducing human error and increasing safety.
Understanding Runway Incursion Risks
Runway incursions remain one of aviation's most critical safety challenges. Learn how Touchway's intelligent system prevents unauthorized access and protects lives.
The Critical Risk
A runway incursion occurs when any aircraft, vehicle, or person enters a protected runway area without proper authorization. These incidents are among the most dangerous events in aviation, with potential for catastrophic collisions between aircraft and ground vehicles during critical takeoff and landing phases.
According to IATA, runway safety incidents account for a significant portion of aviation accidents globally. The combination of high-speed aircraft operations, complex airport layouts, and multiple ground vehicles creates an environment where even small errors can have devastating consequences.
How Touchway Prevents Incursions
Geofencing & Zone Definition
Virtual boundaries are created around critical areas including active runways, taxiways, and restricted zones. Each vehicle is equipped with RFID tags that communicate with the Touchway system in real-time, providing precise location tracking.
Authorization Request
When a vehicle needs to enter a protected runway area, the driver must request authorization through the Touchway system. This request is immediately transmitted to Air Traffic Control (ATC) with vehicle identification, current location, and intended route.
ATC Verification & Clearance
ATC verifies that no aircraft operations conflict with the requested vehicle movement. Only when the runway is confirmed safe and clear does ATC grant digital authorization through the Touchway system, which is logged with timestamp and controller identification.
Authorized Access Granted
Upon receiving ATC clearance, the vehicle operator receives visual and audio confirmation through in-vehicle displays. The system monitors the vehicle's position continuously, ensuring it remains on the authorized path and exits within the allocated time window.
Unauthorized Access: Multi-Layer Protection
When a vehicle attempts to enter a protected zone without authorization—or violates the granted clearance—Touchway's multi-layer safety system activates immediately:
Instant Multi-Channel Alerts
The moment an unauthorized breach is detected, simultaneous alerts are sent to: the vehicle operator (visual and audio warnings), ATC control center (priority alarm), airport operations center, and all nearby vehicles that may be affected. This ensures immediate awareness across all parties.
Automated Response Protocols
Depending on configuration, the system can trigger automated responses including vehicle speed limitation, engine shutdown protocols for equipped vehicles, or activation of emergency lighting systems to make the vehicle highly visible to aircraft and other operators.
Complete Incident Documentation
Every aspect of the incident is automatically recorded: GPS trajectory, timestamps, driver identification, alert response times, and communication logs. This comprehensive data is essential for incident investigation, regulatory reporting, and preventing future occurrences.
Root Cause Analysis
Post-incident analysis identifies whether the breach resulted from human error (miscommunication, inattention, training gaps), system factors (unclear signage, complex procedures), or equipment issues. This data-driven approach enables targeted training and operational improvements.
Why This Multi-Layer Approach is Essential
Runway incursions rarely have a single cause. They typically result from a chain of events: communication breakdowns between ATC and vehicle operators, environmental factors like poor visibility or complex airport layouts, time pressure during peak operations, or simple human error due to fatigue or distraction.
Touchway's system breaks this chain by providing redundant safety layers. Even if one protective measure fails—such as a missed radio communication—the automated geofencing and real-time alerts ensure that unauthorized movements are immediately detected and addressed before they escalate into dangerous situations.
ADS-B infrastructure for precise flight tracking
Touchway's ADS-B antenna infrastructure, installed within airport boundaries with proper authorization, provides up-to-second precision flight positioning for complete airspace awareness.
1090MHz ADS-B Receivers
Professional-grade receivers installed at strategic airport locations for optimal coverage and signal quality.
Up-to-Second Positioning
Real-time aircraft position, altitude, speed, and heading data updated every second for maximum situational awareness.
Low-Latency Processing
Edge computing infrastructure ensures minimal delay between signal reception and display on operator screens.
1. Aircraft broadcasts ADS-B signal
2. Antenna receives data
3. Data sent to Touchway platform
Advanced safety features
Touchway integrates cameras, alarms, and AI-powered risk detection to alert operators of potential safety issues and provide the right information at the right time.
Camera Integration
Connect IP cameras at critical areas like runway entrances and taxiways. Get visual confirmation before granting access and monitor vehicle movements in real-time.
- Live video feeds integrated into authorization interface
- Automatic recording during authorization events
- AI-powered object detection and classification
Smart Alarms & Alerts
Receive instant notifications for potential safety risks. Customizable alarm rules based on geofences, vehicle speed, unauthorized access attempts, and more.
- Geofence breach detection and alerts
- Speed limit violations on critical areas
- Multi-channel notifications (screen, mobile, email)
AI-Powered Risk Detection
Machine learning algorithms analyze patterns and predict potential conflicts between vehicles, aircraft, and runway operations before they occur.
- Collision trajectory prediction
- Runway conflict detection with aircraft
- Anomaly detection in vehicle behavior
Compliance & Audit Trails
Comprehensive logging of all authorization events, access attempts, and operator actions for regulatory compliance and incident investigation.
- Immutable authorization logs with timestamps
- Operator action tracking and accountability
- Export reports for safety audits
Built for airports, airlines, and ground handlers
Touchway's runway incursion prevention system increases safety across all airport operations with real-time data and intelligent access control.
Control Towers
Give air traffic controllers complete visibility into ground operations with integrated ADS-B flight data and vehicle tracking for confident runway management decisions.
- Unified view of aircraft and ground vehicles
- Prevent conflicts with automated alerts
- Streamline communication with ground teams
Airport Operations
Improve safety metrics and reduce incidents with data-driven operations management. Track compliance, analyze trends, and optimize ground operations efficiency.
- Real-time operational dashboards
- Safety incident tracking and reporting
- Regulatory compliance automation
Ground Handlers
Empower ground handling teams with clear access status and real-time alerts. Improve coordination, reduce delays, and maintain the highest safety standards.
- Mobile alerts for vehicle operators
- Clear authorization status visibility
- Enhanced safety training with data