By Philipp Althaus
Zurich Airport at the western end of Runway 28; it’s close to midnight in June 2016 and the airport operation has just stopped. All of a sudden construction machines appear and are being placed along the RESA. Within 5 minutes, the construction site of the FAA-approved greenEMAS® is crowded by a skilled group of construction workers starting their night-shift. Within 6.5 hours per night, they complete several stages of the greenEMAS® project. With a length of 163.3m and a width of 66m, this is the greatest greenEMAS® that has ever been built in the world. Runway Safe Sweden AB holds the patent and the IP rights of this system and realises it in a joint venture with KIBAG Airfield Construction AG. The two companies – combining Swedish innovation with Swiss precision – will complete the installation within 23 nights at Zurich Airport. Thanks to this project plan, there’s no necessity neither for runway closure nor reduction of air traffic.
This project is the result of the first European public invitation to tender for an EMAS and Runway Safe Sweden AB won it with KIBAG Airfield Construction AG in June 2015. Thereafter, the system was adapted to the local conditions and the fleet mix of the airport in Zurich and is capable of smoothly bringing an overrunning aircraft to a halt without causing serious damage.
Runway Safe Sweden AB, in a joint venture with KIBAG Airfield Construction AG, completed the installation within 23 nights at Zurich Airport.
Generally speaking, the greenEMAS® consists of four components: it’s based on a pavement that supports the given fleet mix. On this pavement, the core material foam glass is filled. This foamed silica is the most innovative part of this system since it’s made from recycled glass and crushes under the load of a landing gear. It is easily storable and transportable. The foam glass is covered by a CLSM Slab, which will be protected by a MMA Polymer Topcoat in order to make the system more resistant. This greenEMAS® is a sustainable solution, which produces low maintenance and lifecycle costs.
The design of the RESA at the Zurich Airport presented a specific challenge to the engineers of both companies as the setback from the Runway 28 only measures 2m and aircraft can take-off in both directions.
Runway Safe Sweden AB and KIBAG Airfield Construction AG created a best-in-class solution in that sense that the system will resist Jet Blast and won’t be damaged when it comes to a very close take-off.
Maybe the greatest reference project of this system is the installation at Midway International Airport in Chicago, where the third greenEMAS® is being built. But as every airport is different, the design of the RESA at the Zurich Airport presented a specific challenge to the engineers of both companies as the setback from the Runway 28 only measures 2m and aircraft can take-off in both directions. This means that the Jet Blast has a greater impact on the system than expected. Runway Safe Sweden AB and KIBAG Airfield Construction AG created a best-in-class solution in that sense that the system will resist Jet Blast and won’t be damaged when it comes to a very close take-off. All-in-all, the greenEMAS® is a system to look at when it comes to discussions about improvements of RSAs.
