"Special concrete on New York's La Guardia Airport runways may avert disasters"

Friday, July 9, 2004

Special concrete on New York's La Guardia Airport runways may avert
disasters
The New York (NY) Daily News


Specially designed concrete that crumbles under weight to stop a plane
safely and quickly will be installed at the end of the runways at
LaGuardia Airport.

Beds made of aerated concrete blocks will be installed at the end of
LaGuardia's two runways to halt aircraft in the event of an emergency.

In the past five years, the aircraft arresting system at Kennedy has
stopped five planes that might otherwise have overrun the ends of
runways.

In 1999, a Kennedy arrester bed safely stopped a commuter plane with 27
passengers, and last year, a cargo jet also was successfully stopped.

The world's first aircraft arresting system was installed at JFK in
1996.

"One of our key objectives as a public transportation agency is to
provide the safest facilities possible," said Anthony Coscia, chairman
of the Port Authority, which operates the two airports. 

"The arrester-bed technology we helped create saves lives and its
presence at LaGuardia Airport will enhance the airport's already stellar
safety performance record."

An arrester bed was installed at the end of one LaGuardia runway in
1998, but jet blasts from aircraft caused damage to the material. 

The bed was removed, and tests have been conducted to construct a more
effective system for the airport.

Installation for runway 22 is planned for this fall, and installation
for runway 13 will begin next spring, with completion scheduled for
summer.

The $20.8 million project will be paid for by the Federal Aviation
Administration.


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