Emas is a game changer as a safety enhancement

Notwithstanding all the disinformation circulating, Guernsey runway strength is not in doubt. The UK Civil Aviation Authority has the legal responsibility to publish that information, called a PCN (Pavement Classification Number) together with a whole range of other technical data and does so on its website. This link is available via the local office of the Channel Islands Director of Civil Aviation website at: https:www.cidca.aero

The PCN reading for the Guernsey runway is minimum PCN36 and higher than Jersey’s, which has a minimum PCN34. Every day the Jersey runway manages into more than double figures of take-offs and landings of Airbus A319/A320 and Boeing 737 family aircraft each carrying between 160-180 passengers. Mr Hinkles assertion that the Guernsey stronger runway couldn’t service similar aircraft is nonsensical.

Mikael Larsson, a director of RunwaySafe, the manufacturers of the safety aircraft arresting system called Emas, has recently been in the island. He confirmed that the actual cost of 98m. of Emas blocks (for east end of Guernsey runway) is circa £5-7m. and he would expect the final installed price, with its base, to be of the order of £9-10m. plus another circa £5k for other associated works and all within the easterly airport boundary. All subject to final tendering and contract. RunwaySafe is currently installing approximately one Emas system a month worldwide.

Additionally, a very useful bonus is that in the event of an aircraft overrunning the runway into the Emas the tow back can take less than an hour, after CAA approval. Furthermore the CAA will continue Emas certification of the runway up to a highly unlikely four overruns. The damaged Emas blocks can be replaced by new blocks at night keeping the airport fully operational during opening hours.

Emas is a game changer for the island as a safety enhancement, at the high risk easterly end of the runway, allowing 160m of ‘tarmac’ currently designated as ‘starter strip’ and ‘stop way’ to be recategorized as runway for aircraft weight take-off/landing calculations. This will allow our current runway length of 1,463 metre to be recategorized as 1,600 plus metres and certified as such by the UK Civil Aviation Authority without one metre of additional runway being built. The additional runway length will apply to both east and west operations.

BA and easyJet and other carriers have written to the Guernsey authorities asking to have discussions about flying into Guernsey. With the right terms and conditions, a number of economic advisers including research by our Committee for Economic Development have all concluded that upgrading our Guernsey airport runway to 1,600 plus metres would provide significant GDP growth because of the ability of large European carriers, such as BA and easyJet, to service Guernsey with scheduled flights and also with the ability for charter flights supporting our sporting and cultural sectors.

BARRY CASH

Chairman

Guernsey Aviation Action Group