Aircraft stopping safety beds

[Marty_d]

Why hasn't every runway that takes RPT got this?

https://australianaviation.com.au/2025/03/queenstown-completes-installation-of-aircraft-stopping-safety-beds/

[facthunter]

You have to log in to read it all. It increases your accelerate-stop safety distance. "Someone" will land short in it one day. I'd rather have the extra runway if it could be arranged. Nev

[Marty_d]

I assume there's still a fair amount of runway after the piano keys before you hit the sticky stuff.

So if someone landed on it, they were landing very short.

[onetrack]

I guess it's all well and good if the aircraft manages to stay on the runway, too - but even a moderate runway excursion with an over-run, would see the aircraft miss the safety bed completely.

[Moneybox]

On 14/03/2025 at 3:44 PM, Marty_d said:

Why hasn't every runway that takes RPT got this?

https://australianaviation.com.au/2025/03/queenstown-completes-installation-of-aircraft-stopping-safety-beds/

 

Yes I mentioned this after the Korean airliner crash. On steep descents our truck arrester beds are filled with pea gravel/bauxite ore and it can be done at a much reduce cost.

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/165ofjUU7k/

 

Many years ago, in the 70's we had an arrester bed at the apex of the hairpin bends on the Mount Cotton hill climb in Queensland. A car could be half buried in Macadamia nut shells without sustaining any damage however I was shouted down stating that it would create problems for rescue teams gaining access to the bogged plane. 

 

 

[johnm]

real pictures (I think)

 

 

[facthunter]

Promos only show the Best Part. Neither of those aircraft are going THAT fast. nev

[Moneybox]

Rapid deceleration, I think you'd want your seat belt fastened. 

[facthunter]

It is for all Landings A MAX braking is a a pretty big  retarding force  already. I doubt many non Pilots ever experience it. Nev

[johnm]

On 14/03/2025 at 6:07 PM, facthunter said:

You have to log in to read it all. It increases your accelerate-stop safety distance. "Someone" will land short in it one day. I'd rather have the extra runway if it could be arranged. Nev

OK FH - how does it increase your accelerate / stop distance pleaase ?

• no bucket of flowers if you end up in that bog - the bean counter would not be happy
• me thinks primarily for saving life (if the undercarriage legs stay put) ............... 

[facthunter]

It's taken into account in THAT circumstance.. It helps you LIFT out more weight. IF you are accelerate -Stop limited. IF your company doesn't want you to take advantage of it that would be their prerogative. Nev

[kgwilson]

This system is a great option for short runways that have limited over run and dire consequences if that happens. I've flown in to Queenstown a number of times and at the Western end of the runway below runway height are houses in the town of Frankton & then Lake Wakitipu. At the Eastern end is the confluence of the Shotover and Kawarau rivers well below the runway height. The distance between the 2 EMAS pads is about 1760 metres. Check it out on google earth. There is no over run capability at either end.

[johnm]

there's no option to it .................. you have to stay out of the EMAS (the kitty litter) or you'll be put under the microscope  

[Moneybox]

43 minutes ago, johnm said:

there's no option to it .................. you have to stay out of the EMAS (the kitty litter) or you'll be put under the microscope  

 

I think going under the microscope might be preferable to an overshoot into the Shotover 😄

[facthunter]

It's THAT or take off at lighter weights so you can STOP without using it. it's That or Nothing where it's used. Queenstown requires  RECENT special procedures training for RPT to go there.   Nev

[kgwilson]

There is an excellent video of an RPT ILS approach in to Queenstown through low cloud on youtube. See below.

 

 

[kgwilson]

And the opposite runway on a good day.

 

 

[skippydiesel]

Were they "hand" flown?😈

[kgwilson]

I assume so. It is spectacular part of the world to fly around. I've flown there in my old Archer 2 & in a club 172 N model but more than 20 years ago. Not so many houses then. Attended Warbirds over Wanaka in 2000. We based ourselves in Queenstown & flew to Wanaka for the show. 600 light aircraft flew in on the Saturday morning even a few twins from Australia. They had temporary ATC set up & when I got to the reporting point was given number 10 or 12 & told to come straight in. No GPS or ADSB in those days. 4 in the 172 & all looking & we saw no-one till we got close & then there was a string of black dots in front. I think we were landing at about 30 second intervals. It was fantastic.

[facthunter]

It's NOT an ILS . Its a complex IMC procedure which would have to be hand flown in my day.  To be familiar and skilled is Mandatory (FOR RPT) which means REGULAR Public Transport. Charter and Private don't have to comply but wouldn't get approval to go there on a NON VMC day. There May Be a GNSS based approach but it would need more than One autopilot to be reliable enough. Those Hills are really Close. I've done it in Full motion B 737 simulator.  Nev

[Moneybox]

I didn't realise they had Autopilot in 1964 but hear it is in action.

 

 

[pmccarthy]

Sperry autopilots existed in WW1 and many heavy aircraft had autopilots in WW2. Full auto land was demonstrated in 1947.

Edited Thursday at 01:52 PM by pmccarthy

[facthunter]

That was a pretty basic auto-land. Couldn't be compared with what we have today, including the ground based guidance part of it, and the essential "Fly by Wire" aircraft systems. Nev