Originally Posted by
Expressflight
I thought arrester beds served only to provide an alternative to a RESA (Runway End Safety Area) where the latter is not available due to space limitations. I wonder why they have not been thought necessary begore now - the size of an aircraft doesn't necessarily determine the likelihood of an overrun.
The physical runway length is just over 1500m but declared distances are much less in order to provide RESA. I believe providing the arrestor beds will substitute for a RESA enabling more runway length to be used to increase increase declared distances. This should mean aircraft can operate at increased weight. Providing these beds must be very costly so perhaps the business case now adds up.