Safety net suggested for Wgtn Airport
PA Wellington Civil Aviation authorities are considering a proposal to install a large nylon arrester net at the end of Wellington’s runway to prevent aircraft going off either end of the runway.
The system has been installed and used successfully at military airports and has been successfully tested using a large commercial aircraft. But it has not been installed at any civilian airfield anywhere.
The arrester net would lie across the runway and would be lifted on a cable attached to giant arms at either side of the runway in cases of emergency.
The net can be raised in a second on the instructions of a pilot if the aircraft is unable to stop
before it gets to the end of the runway or if a takeoff has to be aborted because it is unable to accelerate to take-off speed.
The system is being proposed by ASIANZ Holdings’ marketing director, Mr Michael Dillon, a former R.N.Z.A.F. Hercules squadron commander.
He is agent for the company which makes nets in the United States, Advanced Development and Engineering Centre.
Mr Dillon said the nets could be installed about 60 metres short of both ends of Wellington’s runway where it could safely pull up a Boeing 737 travelling about 80 knots.
It would avoid the disastrous consequences of a jet plunging on to the two
roads which fringe the airport runway ends. Wellington Airport does not have runway end safety areas recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. The Ministry of Transport has recommended that Wellington Airport should have 150-metre safety areas at both ends of the runway.
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Press, 4 June 1988, Page 8
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271Safety net suggested for Wgtn Airport Press, 4 June 1988, Page 8
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