Question: why is there always grass or dirt next to a runway?
Hi,
I was reading an accident where people got injured when a plane diverted off the runway (garuda indonesia) and ended up in muddy grass.
These kind of incidents tend to happen often. I tried to Google for an answer but couldnt find one: why are airfields not just paved completely?
Surely this won't be a money issue, so there must be some other reason. I would imagine that runway excursions on paved surfaces would decrease risk of breaking wheels, engine damage and impact forces.
Maybe someone here has an answer! Thanks!