Philadelphia Airport Installs Runway Safety Cushion

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) has completed installation of its first Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS), a cutting-edge safety feature designed to prevent dangerous runway overruns. The system was added to runway 8-26 using $8.5 million in federal funding aimed at improving airport infrastructure.

EMAS works much like a runaway truck ramp on highways. It uses crushable concrete blocks that collapse under an aircraft’s weight, rapidly slowing it to a safe stop during an emergency landing or aborted takeoff. The version installed at PHL, called EMASMAX, was built by New Jersey-based Runway Safe, the only FAA-approved manufacturer in the U.S.

Runway Safe reports 24 successful real-world aircraft arrestments worldwide, ranging from business jets to Boeing 747s, with a 100% success rate. FAA data highlights the importance of such systems, noting that runway overruns account for 22% of aviation accidents globally. While less frequent among commercial jets, these incidents often have severe consequences.

The technology’s value is underscored by past accidents such as Korean Air Flight 631 in 2022, when an Airbus A330 overshot the runway at Cebu. Though there were no fatalities, the aircraft was written off. Experts say EMAS would have likely reduced the damage and risk of injury.

With limited land available at older U.S. airports like PHL, EMAS offers a practical alternative to traditional runway safety areas. The FAA has supported more than 1,000 EMAS installations nationwide, making the United States a global leader in adopting this safety technology.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, simpleflying.com