DFW International Airport was recently named the 2007 Airport Safety Award recipient by the Flight Safety Foundation for its leadership role in developing innovative safety initiatives, specifically perimeter taxiways, area navigation and a surface movement guidance system. In partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DFW has developed and implemented area navigation procedures for improving in-flight safety. The Area Navigation (RNAV) program is a global satellite navigation system that guides pilots along more direct departure routes, increasing efficiency and reducing communication congestion. DFW also partnered with NASA to develop its perimeter taxiway system, which allows arriving aircraft to taxi to the terminals without crossing active runways, lessening the workload for air traffic controllers while reducing potential runway incursions. DFW's implementation has been adopted as a national standard. And DFW has upgraded airport surface detection equipment that provides radar surveillance of aircraft and airport service vehicles, helping controllers prevent runway incursions and determine the spacing between aircraft for improved airfield safety. "We're grateful to our federal partners in allowing us to help develop initiatives that serve to create an overall atmosphere of safety awareness," said Jim Crites, executive vice president of operations at DFW. "We want to be at the forefront of developing these technologies because it's conceivable that every flying passenger in the world will eventually benefit from these efforts." Located halfway between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, DFW International Airport is the world's third busiest, offering nearly 1,900 flights per day and serving 60 million passengers a year.