Installation of Australasia’s First Emas Under Way at Queenstown Airport

A $23 million airfield safety project has begun at Queenstown Airport.

Downer Project Manager Greg Levett, Downer Regional Manager Central Otago and Southland Chris Hasler, Queenstown Airport Chief Executive Glen Sowry, and Queenstown Airport Project Manager Lydia Hartshorne mark the start of a major airfield safety project with a sod-turning ceremony at the Frankton end of the main runway.

Engineered materials arresting system (EMAS) beds will be installed at both ends of the main runway over the next few months.

Queenstown Airport is the first in Australia or New Zealand to use this innovative technology, which utilises cellular cement blocks that crush under the weight an aircraft.

These are designed to slow a plane to a safe stop with little damage, should one overshoot the runway.

Chief Executive Glen Sowry says there’s never been such an incident at Queenstown, but the airport wants to minimise the risk if an overrun did occur.

“EMAS technology has proven its worth in the northern hemisphere, and we are proud to be leading its introduction in this part of the world. It’s the gold standard and will substantially increase the margin of safety for those landing here.”

Queenstown Airport operates with a runway end safety area (RESA) of 90 metres, and the EMAS will provide the same protection as a 240m RESA.

A sod-turning ceremony was held to mark the start of the project, with representatives of the airport company and the head contractor, Downer, wielding the spades. More substantial earthworks are now under way at the Shotover end of the runway to prepare for the construction of new pavement, on which the EMAS bed will be laid.

Work is being done at night, starting after the last scheduled flight has landed. No work is planned for Friday or Saturday nights.

There will be no disruption to flight schedules and no change to the types of aircraft that may land at Queenstown Airport once the EMAS is installed.

Technical information: 
•    Queenstown Airport’s main runway 05/23 has a paved length of 1889 metres and a width of 45 metres.
•    Runway Safe’s EMASMAX® system, which utilises prefabricated 1.2m x 1.2m cellular cement blocks, has been chosen for the project.
•    Major airports using the technology include John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport, London City Airport, and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
•    To date, EMASMAX beds have safely stopped 22 aircraft – ranging in size from business jets to a Boeing 747 – with a 100% success rate. All were in the United States.
•    The EMAS bed at the Frankton end of the runway will be 73 metres long and the bed at the opposite end will be 70 metres long.