EMAS

Engineered Materials Arresting System

Budget

$12M

Timeline

2016 -2017

Contractor

Originally ESCO, now Runway Safe Inc.

Status

Completed

Project Overview

At the Boca Raton Airport, the safety of our users and neighbors is of the utmost importance. By constructing an Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS) at both ends of the runway, we are able to greatly improve the effectiveness of our runway safety areas (RSA).

If an aircraft undershoots or overruns the runway, it will roll onto the EMAS arrestor bed, which utilizes lightweight, crushable cellular cement to decelerate its speed to a safe stop.

While the FAA’s new standard RSA is 1,000 feet at each end of the runway, property constraints such as Spanish River Blvd and the Utility Services Complex make this length of an overrun unfeasible at the Boca Raton Airport.

In accordance with FAA guidelines, the Airport completed an Operational Needs Assessment and Runway Safety Area (RSA) study in 2012. Due to the property constraints, it was determined that the installation of EMAS is the only practicable alternative to enhancing the RSAs at the Airport.

Project Factsheet

Contractor

Originally ESCO, now Runway Safe Inc.

Size/Scope

The project installed EMAS beds at both ends of the single runway (5/23) because standard 1,000-foot Runway Safety Areas (RSAs) were not feasible due to constraints like Spanish River Blvd and a utility complex adjacent to the airport property.

Materials/Systems

The system uses a bed of lightweight, crushable cellular concrete.

Impact
The EMAS is lauded by the FAA as a “lifesaving” technology, providing a vital safety net in a dense urban area. The September 2025 incident, where an aircraft was stopped safely just short of a busy road, proved the system’s effectiveness.
More Details