Week of January 19, 2026

New Surface Movement Radars

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston is the first airport to receive new Surface Movement Radars (SMR). SMRs are the radar backbone for the Airport Surface Detection Equipment Model X (ASDE-X) at IAH. ASDE-X enables controllers to track aircraft and vehicles on runways and taxiways and alerts them to potential conflicts on the surface. IAH is the first of 45 airports that will receive SMR.

Winter Storm Ready + FAA Weather Squad Guest Forecaster This week’s guest weather squad forecaster is Chris Michaels with WRAL in Raleigh, North Carolina. Chris brings us our weather outlook for the rest of the week, including the snow that everyone is talking about for the weekend. Remember, if the weather could impact your travel plans, always check with your airline, airport, and fly.faa.gov for updates. The FAA winter weather webpage is a good resource for travelers and media.

Super Bowl Charter Flights

For people lucky enough to have tickets to the big game in Santa Clara, California, a private air charter can be an appealing option for getting there. But it’s important to ensure the operator is properly certified. Read our new blog to learn about red flags that can point to an illegal operator who can expose you to serious safety risks.