Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport enhances airport safety measures in Korea

The localizer, identified as a contributing factor to the tragedy involving a Jeju Air passenger aircraft at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, will be reinstalled with a structure that can easily break upon impact. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to enhance runway safety by removing mounds at seven airports. Additionally, the standards for the localizer will be revised to improve safety in new airport projects, including the Gadeokdo New Airport and Jeju's Second Airport.

On the 22nd, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport released a plan for 'improving airport facility safety.' The ministry conducted special safety inspections, including for localizers, at 14 airports nationwide from the 13th to the 21st.

Improvements to localizers and surrounding terrain are set to begin at seven airports, including Muan, Gwangju, Yeosu, Pohang-Gyeongju, Gimhae, Sacheon, and Jeju. Specifically, soil will be added from the top of the mounds towards the runway to create a gentler slope, and plans will be pursued to install localizers underground. Existing mounds will be completely removed, and the localizers will be reinstalled in a shock-absorbing structure.

The ministry is also reviewing a plan to replace nine localizers at the seven airports with a lightweight steel structure during the design process. The improvement work is set to commence immediately, with the ministry planning to shorten the periods for permits and consultations with relevant authorities to ensure completion within the first half of the year.

Until the improvements to localizers are completed, an 'emergency safety flight measure' will be implemented to ensure the safety of aircraft operations, which includes sharing information with airlines and forming flight teams with experienced pilots.

At the seven airports, including Muan, Gimhae, Yeosu, Pohang-Gyeongju, Sacheon, Ulsan, and Wonju, where the runway safety area falls short of the recommended standard of 240 meters, plans will be made to expand the safety zones. If sufficient safety zones cannot be secured within the airport, the introduction of Engineered Materials Arresting Systems (EMAS) will be considered through expert reviews. EMAS is known to effectively minimize damage to aircraft that veer off the runway by destroying concrete blocks under the weight of the aircraft.

As for specific measures at each airport, Gwangju Airport will prioritize reviewing options to add soil to raise the base of the localizer, which is currently about 70 cm. Yeosu Airport plans to remove a mound approximately 4 meters high and reinstall the localizer using a shock-absorbing structure while expanding the safety area on the south side of the runway from 208 meters to 240 meters.

At Pohang-Gyeongju Airport and Gimhae International Airport, where the localizer bases are about 70 cm and 80 to 90 cm respectively, plans will be made to install them underground and expand the safety areas in accordance with the recommended standards or consider installing EMAS. Sacheon Airport also plans to install the localizer underground and expand the safety area (currently 122 meters and 177 meters) to meet the standards or introduce EMAS.

Muan International Airport is set to fully demolish the existing concrete mound and reinstall the localizer in a shock-absorbing structure. At Jeju International Airport, a detailed analysis will begin to determine whether the localizer meets shock-absorbing structural requirements, and separate improvement measures will be developed based on the results.

Ulsan Airport and Wonju Airport do not require additional improvements since the localizers are already installed at ground level, but plans will be made to expand the southern runway safety area and the north-south side safety zones (90 meters) to the recommended standard of 240 meters or to introduce EMAS.

In addition, Incheon, Gimpo, Daegu, Cheongju, Yangyang, and Gunsan airports have been found to have localizers installed at ground level and their safety zones meeting the recommended standards.

The ministry plans to proactively apply safety measures from the design stage for new airport constructions. The localizer facilities at new airports such as Gadeokdo New Airport, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integrated New Airport, Jeju Second Airport, and Saemangeum New Airport are planned to be installed with 'brittle materials' and 'ground contours.' The runway safety zones will also be secured to exceed the international recommended standard of 240 meters.

However, the introduction of EMAS will be considered at airports like Heuksan, Ulleung, and Baengnyeong, where securing safety zones is challenging due to topographical characteristics. While the localizers at Heuksan and Ulleung airports are being designed in a way that does not require them, safety will be prioritized when introducing navigation safety facilities.

The ministry plans to revise related regulations within the first half of this year to strengthen aviation safety regulations. To this end, it will analyze domestic regulations and the international regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and comprehensively overhaul the airport facility law along with related sub-guidelines, instructions, and notifications.

The regular management and inspection system for airport facilities will also be strengthened. To this end, safety experts will be added to the Airport Development Technology Review Committee, and quarterly safety inspections of airport facilities will be conducted. Additionally, the ministry will establish an 'Airport Facility Safety Team' (tentative name) dedicated to facility safety work to formalize the management system.

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Park Sang-woo noted, 'This measure reflects urgent issues that require prompt action,' adding, 'We will review the safety of all facilities, including aviation, roads, railways, and buildings, and quickly implement necessary measures to ensure public reassurance.'