Urgent Reform Needed: Jeju Air Crash Exposes Critical Flaws in Runway Safety Regulations

Seoul, Dec 31: In the wake of the tragic Jeju Air crash, South Korean aviation experts are calling for a revision of airport safety regulations, specifically concerning runway safety zones. The accident, which resulted in 179 deaths, occurred when a Jeju Air B737-800 belly-landed at Muan International Airport and collided with a concrete structure housing a navigation system called a localiser, situated 250 meters from the runway’s end. Experts argue that the presence of this structure significantly increased the severity of casualties.

The South Korean transport ministry maintains that the localiser was placed in accordance with current regulations, which require obstacles within the runway end safety area (RESA) to be mounted on frangible structures. However, this guideline does not apply to the localiser at Muan, as it is situated outside the airport’s 199-meter RESA. Although the international standard for RESA is a minimum of 90 meters, with a recommended 240 meters, some South Korean airports, including Muan, have RESAs shorter than 240 meters.

Aviation professionals emphasize the urgency of regulatory revisions, highlighting that the concrete structure worsened the crash impact. Chung Yoon-shik, an aviation professor, pointed out that existing rules are outdated as they predate such incidents, suggesting improvements are necessary. Similarly, Hwang Ho-won, an aerospace law professor, stressed the need for physical changes, advocating for the removal of the concrete mound and the installation of an engineered materials arrestor system (EMAS). EMAS, which uses a lightweight material to decelerate aircraft overrunning the runway, could enhance safety, especially for airports with shorter RESAs.

With experts and officials urging regulatory amendments and infrastructure upgrades, South Korea faces a critical juncture in addressing airport safety to prevent future tragedies.

Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2024/12/31/jeju-air-crash-highlights-need-for-revised-regulations-on-airport-runway-safety-zones/
Category : INTERNATIONAL,News Alert
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Publish Date: 2024-12-31 20:55:00