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Were LaGuardia Runway Collision Alerts Tuned Down Before The Air Canada Collision? — [Roundup]

A retired FAA systems engineer disclosed that the ASDE‑X runway‑collision alert system uses adjustable time and distance parameters, known as safety cells, which are set individually at each airport. During development, the FAA and controller groups deliberately lowered these thresholds to avoid false alarms that could be logged as controller errors. The informant believes that at LaGuardia Airport the parameters have been set so low for years that the system either failed to issue a warning or did so too late during the Air Canada‑fire‑truck collision. This raises concerns that the system’s safety margin may have been compromised to prioritize operational convenience over hazard detection.