Phoenix city leaders have approved the purchase of dozens of new tracking devices for vehicles operating at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport as part of an effort to improve safety on the airfield and reduce the risk of runway incidents. The investment will significantly expand the airport’s ability to monitor ground traffic in real time and provide air traffic controllers with more detailed information about vehicles moving on runways and taxiways.
According to FOX 10 Phoenix, the Phoenix City Council approved more than $500,000 for the purchase of 85 additional Vehicle Movement Area Transponders, commonly referred to as VMATs. These devices allow air traffic controllers to track airport vehicles operating on runways and taxiways in real time, similar to how aircraft are tracked today.
Sky Harbor officials said the airport was among the first in the United States to test and implement VMAT technology on its airfield. Prior to the new purchase, the airport had only five transponders in operation. Once the additional units are installed, the total number of active transponders will increase to 90.
Chris Zanardi, vice president of commercial operations for PASSUR Aerospace, the company supplying the technology, explained that the devices transmit information very similar to what aircraft already provide. Each transponder broadcasts a unique identifier along with location, speed, and movement information. That data is then sent to air traffic controllers and can also be displayed in aircraft cockpits.
The goal of the system is to improve situational awareness for everyone operating on the airfield. By allowing controllers, pilots, and ground crews to see vehicle movements more accurately, officials hope to reduce the chances of runway incursions, taxiway conflicts, and other potentially dangerous incidents.
Zanardi noted that interest in the technology has grown following several high-profile aviation incidents nationwide. PASSUR Aerospace currently has more than 2,300 transponder units deployed at over 35 airports throughout the country. The company expects that number to continue increasing as airports invest in additional safety systems.
FOX 10 reported that one event that drew attention to the importance of vehicle tracking technology occurred at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. According to the report, an Air Canada regional jet collided with an airport fire truck on a runway in March, resulting in the deaths of both pilots. A subsequent National Transportation Safety Board investigation found that a key warning system did not alert controllers to the conflict because the emergency vehicles involved were not equipped with transponders, making them effectively invisible to the tracking system.
The expansion of the VMAT system comes as Sky Harbor continues experiencing record growth. Airport officials reported that March 2026 became the busiest month in the airport’s history, with more than 5.1 million passengers traveling through the facility.
Traffic on the airfield is also increasing. On March 8 alone, Sky Harbor handled more than 1,500 aircraft takeoffs and landings. Airport officials said that number significantly exceeded the airport’s normal daily average of approximately 1,300 operations.
In a statement provided to FOX 10, Sky Harbor officials said the additional transponders will give controllers a much more accurate and comprehensive view of vehicle activity across the airport. Officials believe the technology will improve operational awareness and further strengthen safety procedures throughout the airfield.
The investment is part of broader efforts across the aviation industry to modernize airport operations and reduce risks as passenger numbers and aircraft traffic continue rising. Airports nationwide have increasingly explored technologies that provide controllers with more precise information about everything moving on airport property, including aircraft, service vehicles, maintenance equipment, and emergency response units.
Sky Harbor officials say the expanded network of transponders will help ensure the airport remains prepared for future growth while maintaining high safety standards for passengers, pilots, controllers, and airport personnel. As one of the busiest airports in the country, officials believe the additional tracking capabilities will provide an important extra layer of protection as traffic continues increasing.
Source: Fox10 Phoenix
