in aviationón, safety always comes first, así that today we review whaté it is and for whaté serves the arrest systemón at the ends of the runway called EMAS. FAA photo
The Detention SystemóNo. of Engineering Materialsía or in englishés Engineered Material Arresting Systems, has had in the úrecent weeks a notable participationón in the aeron communityáutica and news in general having avoided, potentially, regrettable accidents toéprisoners, therefore I consideredé key to talk widely about this braking assistance mechanism in extreme or emergency cases.
EMAS system in aviationón
In the world of aviationón, Safety in the landing or takeoff phase is essential. Nevertheless, It is not always possible to have the ideal space to ensure that an aircraft comes to a complete stop after an error or failure. Hereí This is where innovation comes into play.ón crucial: Detention SystemsóNo. of Engineering Materialsía, más known by their acronym in Englishés, IT'S NOT (Engineered Materials Arresting Systems).
The Challengeíor of ÁRunway Safety Area (RSA)
Traditionally, Safety at the end of a runway is ensured by the ÁRunway Safety Area (RSA). This is a áclear and level area designedñada to allow an aircraft that departs or overruns the runway to stop safely.
Although the rules of the FAA establish that the RSA can extend up to 305 meters (1,000 pies) más allá from the end of the track, Many airports were built before these dimensions were adopted.ándar in the déeach of 1980. On numerous occasions, fruitáasses like bodies of water, roads, víRailroad tracks or rugged terrain make it unfeasible to extend the RSA to its recommended length..
The trigger for the búa solution remainsón it was an incident of runway exit on 1984 at New York JFK Airport, that showedó the urgent need for an effective alternative.
¿Whaté It is the EMAS System?
Developed in the déeach of 1990 in collaborationón with the University of Dayton and the FAA, EMAS is a technologyían innovator who actsúas a «colchósecurity number» at the end of the track.
It consists of a bed of crushable and light materials installed in the áarea at the end of the track. When an aircraft leaves the runway and enters EMAS material, a pigáticos sink into the material, that breaks in a predictable and controlled way. This actionón decelera ráask for the aircraft, managing to stop it safely and minimizing the damageños.
Una installationón isándar of EMAS isá diseñada to stop the majoría of aircraft exceeding the runway at a speed of up to 70 knots (about 130 km/h).
Types of EMAS systems and manufacturers
Currently, Runway Safe is the úonly manufacturer of EMAS products that meet the demanding standardsáseparate de la FAA. Its m systemsás relevant are:
- NOT MAX®: The verseón más recent and long-lasting block-based system. Uses crushable cellular cement blocks that are secured to the track base.
- greenEMAS®: A recent alternative that uses a foamílice made from recycled glass. This material is poured into a pl mesh systemáhigh resistance static.
Both products are installed títypically across the entire width of the track, with a length and displacement that are determined based onón of the aircraft fleet used by the airport.
Design requirementsñwhere is itáoperational standards
In the absence of regulations ICAO (Organizationón of Aviationón Civil International) specífic and universal on EMAS, los isáseparate de la FAA, collected in circular AC 150/5220-22B, They are the global reference.
He saysñor an EMAS system must meet rigorous criteria, including:
- Use of fire-resistant materials and non-tóboys.
- Resistance to the effects of the reaction jetón (jet blast), which is achieved by maintaining a separation zoneón (setback) between the end of the runway and the start of the EMAS.
- Ability to operate in all temperatures and climatic conditionsáethics.
- It should not impede the trávehicle numberíRescue and Extinction Service assesóNo. of Fires (RFFS).
- Diseñor to avoid adverse effects if an aircraft inadvertently lands in the directionón opposite (undershoot).
History saving lives
The first EMAS was installedó on 1996 at JFK airport New York. Since then, la implementationón has grown steadily.
Thanks to the initiative of the FAA Airports Office, security has been improved in the RSA of más de 500 commercial airports in the US. UU. This includes the installationón of EMAS systems in más de 110 runway ends in más de 70 American airports. Paíyou are like españa (Madrid Barajas), China and Taiwanán también have adopted this technologyía.
Until September 2023, EMAS systems have safely stopped aircraft in 20 incidents at US airports. UU., safeguarding a total of 428 passengers and crew.
- I was instructedón for the CrewóFlight number: In case of an imminent meeting with EMAS, the úno guífor the pilot is to maintain the central axis of the runway and, once the aircraft has stopped, do not try to move or roll it under any circumstances.
In essence, EMAS represents a solutionóengineering no.ícutting edge that elevates the stateásecurity standard at airports with terrain restrictions, demonstrating that innovationón can overcome the limitations fíactions to protect lives and assets.
¿Habían oíof this solutionón? ¿In thaté airport dutyíto settle?
