Engineered Arresting Systems Corporation
ESCO’s EMASMAX Safely Stops Private Jet at Key West Int'l Airport!
Eighth Save for ESCO’s EMAS arrestor bed!
Cessna Citation 550 engages the EMASMAX arrestor bed on RW 9, 11/3/2011
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Gulfstream 150 in the RW27 Safety Area, 10/31/2011 (left photo)
Cessna Citation 550 in the EMASMAX arrestor bed on RW 9, 11/3/2011 (right photo)
By Stan Koczkodaj, Marketing Creative Director
What are the odds of two aircraft overruns occurring at both ends of the same runway within the space of four days?
Not very likely and highly remote. Yet this unusual scenario actually occurred between Oct. 31st and Nov. 3rd at Key West International Airport in Florida.
The most recent overrun incident took place on Thursday, Nov. 3 at 12:15 PM, when a Cessna Citation 550 skidded 179 ft off the east end (Runway 09) of the 4,800-ft runway and engaged an ESCO EMASMAX Engineered Material Arresting System. The energy-absorbing arrestor bed brought the private jet aircraft to a safe, controlled stop. The pilot, co-pilot and three passengers quickly exited the aircraft with no injuries. The aircraft suffered only minimal damage. Airport Director Peter Horton said that the safety material worked perfectly: “Not even a bruise or a scratch.”
Earlier in the week, on Mon, Oct. 31 at 7:45 PM, a Gulfstream 150 business jet landing on the west end (Runway 27) of the same runway overran and passed through an unpaved safety area before coming to a stop at the end of the airfield. However, the aircraft experienced substantial damage. This event attracted significant media coverage as NASCAR race car owner Rick Hendrick and his wife, Linda were passengers in the aircraft, which was owned by NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson. Mr. Hendrick was hospitalized with a broken clavicle and ribs, while Mrs. Hendrick had minor cuts and bruises.
Recognizing the need to mitigate injuries and aircraft damages associated with aircraft overruns, the FAA has been actively improving runway safety areas across the nation. At Key West International Airport, the FAA worked closely with the airport in successfully installing an EMASMAX arrestor bed at the end of Runway 09 in October 2010. The arrestor bed design was optimized with the use of ESCO’s low-strength EMAS blocks that provide performance predictability down to 12,500 lbs.
The successful arrestment of this Cessna Citation 550 shows the value of having an arresting system that can effectively perform under a wide range of aircraft weights. In addition to providing safety, an added benefit of this installation was the minimal environmental impact to mangrove swamps and other habitats that bordered that particular runway.
Airport officials also had concerns in the past about Runway 27, which only had 100 feet of safety area beyond the runway, which then led into a salt pond and an embankment. A 600-ft unpaved safety area was added to that location in May, 2011 providing a more expansive safety buffer that may have been a life-saver for everyone on board the Gulfstream 150 aircraft on Oct 31st.
Aircraft overruns seem to happen when you least expect it. Although the circumstances in these two were similar, the outcome in each situation was remarkably different. There were some injuries and substantial aircraft damage on the first incident. In contrast, everyone was able to walk away without “even a bruise or a scratch” thanks to the performance of the EMAS arrestor bed.
Archive aerial view of Key West International Airport EMASMAX arrestor bed.
About EMASMAX
EMASMAX is the latest, most durable version of ESCO’s field-proven EMAS, developed with and approved by the FAA. ESCO’s EMAS arrestor beds are composed of blocks of lightweight, crushable concrete designed to safely stop airplanes that overshoot runways. ESCO’s EMAS is an acceptable alternative for preventing overrun catastrophes at airports where runway safety areas (RSA) do not exist or are impractical due to environmental or other issues.
These systems are present on 67 runways worldwide and have now safely arrested eight aircraft ranging from a Cessna Citation to a Boeing 747 and saved the lives of 235 passengers/crew members. In most cases, after extraction from the EMAS bed, every aircraft was able to fly away. Only the sections of the EMAS bed damaged by the aircraft’s tire/landing gear entry need to be replaced, an expense that is covered by the aircraft operator’s insurance.
About ESCO-Zodiac Aerospace
ESCO (Engineered Arresting Systems Corporation) is a member of the Zodiac Aerospace Emergency Arresting Systems Division (EASD) and is widely recognized as the world’s leading authority on energy absorption, particularly in the area of military and commercial aircraft arresting systems. ESCO has diversified its business philosophy of “Mastering Safety in Motion” to include urban security and unmanned systems launch and recovery.
Engineered Arresting Systems Corporation, 2239 High Hill Road, Logan Township, NJ 08085, USA
Tel: 856-241-8620, Fax: 856-241-8621 More information about ESCO’s EMAS: www.emasmax.com
Email Inquiries: Stan.Koczkodaj@zodiacaerospace.com & emasmax@zodiacaerospace.com
Related news links:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/11/05/2488332/key-west-plans-runway-repairs.html 11-5-2011
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/11/03/2485562/jet-sails-off-runway-at-key-west.html 11-3-2011
For prior EMAS arrestments, please refer to: ESCO EMAS Fact Sheet
