Collapsible surface ‘could be answer to runway land issues’

Friday 13th August 2010, 11:30AM BST.

Airport neighbour, eye surgeon Hugh Bacon said the EMAS system would please a lot of people but that due consideration should be first given to the safety aspects of such an option. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 1009344)

THE runway extension may not need to be as big and costly as Public Services anticipated.

It could be possible to install the increasingly widely used technology EMAS – a surface that collapses under the weight of a runaway aeroplane to stop it – at the end of the runway rather than extend it.

The Civil Aviation Authority has said EMAS, or Engineered Material Arresting System, could be used as an alternative to extending the runway end safety area by 240 metres, to the joy of many airport neighbours,

Deputy David De Lisle had written to the CAA to ask whether Guernsey would be permitted to use EMAS to achieve compliance.

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1
gsydonkee

August 13, 2010 at 11:57 am

Hi.

Im sure something like this has been raised before. It woulds seem like the sensible resolution. Basically a sand pit for an over-run aircraft to come to a stop in a safe manner.

But, the States seem to have another alternative reason for the lengthening of the runway! Bigger aircraft!
This is a tiny island. The money we spend to get to the uk will be small in comparison to what we will have to pay in the future if this goes ahead!

I dont want massive jets flying over my house. I live at Rocquaine and aircraft dont bother me but jets……..Not long ago, a large jet came into Guernsey as a test and believe me, it was real noisy!

I think all these committees that are set up to sort out our Island should be rebranded to be ‘Guernsey States, committed to screwing the Island and us, UP!’
That way we can for once actually pat them on the back and say ‘Good job everyone!’

GD.

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2
Biggles

August 13, 2010 at 12:12 pm

The CAA have a website which contains information on this and where it can be used. Worth reading.

http://www.caa.co.uk.

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3
trip15

August 13, 2010 at 12:46 pm

See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineered_materials_arrestor_system

If there is an incident and the EMAS stops the aircraft, doesn’t the runway have to be closed whilst the blocks (at $1000 each) are replaced?

This could take a week or more and in the meantime we have no airport as there is only one runway.

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