How does an engineered material arresting system (EMAS) help reduce the runway safety area (RSA) requirement?

How does an engineered material arresting system (EMAS) help reduce the runway safety area (RSA) requirement?

• A. The system stops a 150,000-lb aircraft in 300 ft but does not reduce RSA length.
• B. The system eliminates RSA width completely.
• C. The system increases RSA length.
• D. The system stops up to 70 knots and reduces RSA length but not width.

Answer: (D)

Engineered Material Arresting System provides an energy-absorbing buffer at the end of a runway, so an overrunning aircraft can be decelerated and stopped within the EMAS instead of continuing past the runway edge. This ability to absorb energy means the required runway safety area length can be reduced, since the danger of an overrun is contained by the EMAS. The system is designed to stop aircraft up to about 70 knots, which covers many overruns, but it does not change the lateral space that must be kept clear. The RSA width remains the same because lateral clearance requirements are still necessary. So the correct description is that EMAS stops up to 70 knots and reduces RSA length but not width.

Engineered Material Arresting System provides an energy-absorbing buffer at the end of a runway, so an overrunning aircraft can be decelerated and stopped within the EMAS instead of continuing past the runway edge. This ability to absorb energy means the required runway safety area length can be reduced, since the danger of an overrun is contained by the EMAS. The system is designed to stop aircraft up to about 70 knots, which covers many overruns, but it does not change the lateral space that must be kept clear. The RSA width remains the same because lateral clearance requirements are still necessary. So the correct description is that EMAS stops up to 70 knots and reduces RSA length but not width.