[NittanyLion]

For several years now the air traffic controllers, that work the system from the front lines every day, have told the FAA and Administrator Blakey that a system called ASDE-X is a necessary component to safe operations of ground traffic in the air traffic control towers. This system allows the controller to see and track via radar, all aircraft and vehicle movement on the airport surface area.

It almost seems like you should be able to stick up some RFID receivers at various taxiways and outfit jets with an active RFID tag. Then the jet would need to pass the correct tag before being given clearance, or would get an error message is passing the wrong tag. Maybe I'm just oversimplifying...

[Painful]

It almost seems like you should be able to stick up some RFID receivers at various taxiways and outfit jets with an active RFID tag. Then the jet would need to pass the correct tag before being given clearance, or would get an error message is passing the wrong tag. Maybe I'm just oversimplifying...

Now why would the FAA ever do anything that made common sense? I like your thought process though!!! Seems like something simple could be done to prevent these type of incidents from occuring.

Most of our equiptment and procedures are so outdated it's amazing that you don't see these kind of accidents happen more frequently. I think its a testament to all the skilled professionals in the aviation industry that keep it running with so few incidents. You hate to see ANY happen at all, but these type of events could be happening on a regular basis.