Engineered Material Arresting Systems (EMAS) played an important role in the injury-free outcomes of two separate runway overruns this week.

On Wednesday, a Gulfstream G150 arriving from Baltimore/Washington International overran a rain-slicked 5,000-foot runway at Chicago Executive Airport but was stopped short of a major roadway by EMAS, according to the FAA. Hours later, a Bombardier Challenger 300 carrying four people overran the runway at Boca Raton Airport, where the arresting system again prevented the aircraft from leaving airport property.

EMAS consists of crushable material designed to decelerate an aircraft by allowing its tires to sink into the surface, absorbing momentum and bringing it to a stop. According to the FAA, a standard installation is capable of halting most overr

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