53 AirportImprovement.com November | December 2026 OPERATIONS 0B1 | PNN Cameras Keep an Eye on Conditions AWOS III systems aren’t the only safety enhancement being added. In 2023, LifeFlight of Maine began installing weather cameras at in-state airports to provide a visual check of conditions that weather stations can’t capture—for instance, whether the runway surface has dried after a storm, the status of runway plowing, or if a moose or other wildlife is blocking the runway. As the network grew, LifeFlight connected with FAA’s weather camera program through its third-party host system, which allows organizations to provide imagery to the FAA website. (https://weathercams.faa.gov/) Weather cameras were pioneered in Alaska as a way to help pilots assess conditions before taking off. The technology resulted in an 85% reduction in aircraft incidents in Alaska and has since spread to other states, including Maine, where LifeFlight of Maine saw an opportunity to address challenges at unstaffed airports and medical landing sites. Ultimately, LifeFlight of Maine helped establish one of the country’s more extensive weather camera networks. “It has been instrumental in getting 36 FAA Electrification shouldn’t mean costly infrastructure upgrades or operational compromise. By sharing power, data, and technical synergies, EcoGate removes bottlenecks, accelerates electrification, and advances gate economics — at contact gates, remote stands, and beyond. Learn more on itwgse.com/ecogate EcoGate Stop upgrading infrastructure Start connecting your equipment Sensors for the new AWOS IIIP needed to be precisely calibrated.
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