Technical feasibility of EMAS pavement in light of the Muan Airport overrun: A review of international applications

In Woo Shin; Kyong Il Ko; Dong Min Cho

doi:10.22702/jkai.2025.15.1.1

All Issue

2025 Vol.15, Issue 1 Next Page

Technical Notes

Technical feasibility of EMAS pavement in light of the Muan Airport overrun: A review of international applications 무안공항 사고를 계기로 본 EMAS 포장의 기술적 타당성과 해외 적용 사례 고찰

4 July 2025. pp. 1-10

PDF XML

Abstract

On December 29, 2024, Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 overran the runway during an emergency landing attempt at Muan International Airport, resulting in the deaths of 179 out of 181 onboard. The incident revealed a critical deficiency in the runway end safety area (RESA), which fell short of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recommendation of 240 meters. This tragedy has reignited interest in the adoption of the Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS), a passive deceleration technology deployed at runway ends to mitigate overrun risks. This technical note investigates the structural design, international implementation, and policy frameworks of EMAS, focusing on its application in the United States and China. It analyzes key differences in material composition, construction methods, environmental adaptability, and regulatory certification. The paper also evaluates operational effectiveness based on real-world deceleration events and examines how EMAS has been adapted to complex topographies, such as high-altitude and high-precipitation airports in China. By comparing the FAA’s standardized framework with China’s localized MH/T 5111-2015 specification, the study highlights the importance of site-specific customization and institutional integration. The paper concludes with policy recommendations for introducing EMAS in South Korea, including the establishment of technical design guidelines, pilot site deployment, legal integration, and funding mechanisms.

Keywords

EMAS

Runway Overrun

RESA Compliance

Aviation Safety Policy

Deceleration System

References

CAAC (2015). MH/T 5111-2015: Technical specification for engineered materials arresting system (EMAS). Civil Aviation Administration of China.

FAA (2023). Advisory circular AC 150/5220-22B: Engineered materials arresting systems (EMAS) for aircraft overruns. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration.

FAA (2025). Runway surface safety technology: Soft ground arrestor system (EMAS). Airport Technology R&D Branch. Retrieved June 5, 2025, from https://www.airporttech.tc.faa.gov/Airport-Safety

Hangke Tech Development Co., Ltd. (2023). The last safety defense after aircraft overrun: Lanzu-1 EMAS R&D and applications [Internal technical presentation].

ICAO (2010). Annual safety report. International Civil Aviation Organization.

ICAO (2011). Annex 14 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation: Aerodromes (Vol. I, 5th ed.). International Civil Aviation Organization.

MOCT-AIAIB (2025). Preliminary investigation report on the Muan Airport runway excursion accident. Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport - Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board.

OpenAI (2025). AI-generated image created using DALL･E for illustration purposes. https://openai.com/dall-e

Runway Safe Group (2025). Company overview and EMASMAX® system portfolio. Retrieved June 5, 2025, from https://runwaysafe.com/

Slimko, E. (2012). Runway overruns: Real EMAS decelerations and related research. Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting.

Yao, X. (2012). “Design and material characteristics of engineered arresting system in Chinese plateau airports”, Journal of Civil Aviation Science and Technology, 4(1), pp. 15-20.

Information

Publisher :KOREAN ASPHALT INSTITUTE
Publisher(Ko) :한국아스팔트학회
Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Asphalt Institute
Journal Title(Ko) :한국아스팔트학회지
Volume : 15
No :1
Pages :1-10
Received Date : 2025-06-10
Revised Date : 2025-06-19
Accepted Date : 2025-06-27
DOI :https://doi.org/10.22702/jkai.2025.15.1.1

Journal of the Korean Asphalt Institute ISSN:2234-0785(Print) 2635-9553(Online) 한국아스팔트학회지

All Issue