EMAS - new runway buffer zones

In March next year Wellington Airport will begin installing new runway safety buffer zones designed to enhance the performance of the airport’s safety areas.

The engineered materials arresting system (EMAS) uses energy absorbing blocks to provide an additional safety measure at each end of the airport runway.

The system provides further safety enhancements by extending the usable length of the runway – optimising space currently used for safety zones, providing a landing distance increase of over 130m and a take-off distance increase of 26m on our most restricted runway direction.

Much of this work will take place at night to avoid disruption to flight operations. Our procedures require noise mitigation measures to be planned and implemented for all projects - we have a detailed Construction Noise Management Plan which provides more detail on this.

This project is likely to be complete before the end of 2025.