Tarsier - reducing risk on the runway
Tarsier is the world's first runway hazard management system with fully automatic Foreign Object Debris (FOD) detection capabilities. Designed specifically to locate potentially hazardous debris on airport runways, Tarsier is bringing a new level of safety to airports across the globe.

A continuous runway inspection

Tarsier’s networked high frequency, high resolution radars sweep the runway around the clock for potentially hazardous objects. On detection, the integrated day/night camera zooms in to identify the item, enabling appropriate action to be taken. Images can be produced in all light levels giving operators greater confidence and greater certainty 24 hours a day.

As well as FOD, Tarsier can detect the presence of birds and wildlife, aiding operators with their wildlife management and helping to reduce the risk of bird strikes.

Hazard Management

The Tarsier Toolbox allows Tarsier users to store, view and analyse all of their FOD data. Through a flexible graphical interface, it includes tools to highlight trends and hotspots, and so help identify the sources of FOD. This information allows operators to be proactive in their efforts to ensure FOD does not get onto the runway in the first place.

In operation around the World

Tarsier is in operation at some of the world’s busiest airports, including London Heathrow, Dubai International, Doha International and Vancouver International.

"We see Tarsier as an integral part of our safety management system because it inspects the runway continuously with no disruption to aircraft movements." Mr Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive Officer, Qatar Airways, Doha.
Benefits

  • Enhanced runway safety
  • Wildlife control
  • Runway capacity gains
  • Increased passenger satisfaction
  • Reduced carbon dioxide emissions
"The Tarsier success has been highlighted by a single event in its second year of operation at the airport. During that event Tarsier alerted us to the presence of FOD on our southern runway. The FOD picked up by Tarsier was a long steel cable from a fuelling truck. We were able to dispatch someone to retrieve it before any other aircraft were exposed to the risk from the cable. That one single event may have paid for Tarsier in its entirety and proved to us we made the right investment.

The automation efficiencies have reduced average FOD retrieval times from nine minutes to five minutes, and that time saving allows runway capacity gains of between two and four slots during peak periods."
Brett Patterson Director of Airside Operations, Vancouver International Airport.
 
 
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