It will become the first airport in Australasia to have engineering materials arresting system (Emas) beds installed at both ends of the main runway.
Arising from the airport’s master plan, the beds are designed to safely bring an aircraft to a controlled stop with minimal damage in the event of a runway overshoot.
Airport chief operating officer Todd Grace said at present the airport operated with a minimum runway end safety area (Resa) of 90m, which complies with civil aviation regulation — the Emas will provide the same protection as a 340m Resa.
The "EmasMax" system chosen by the airport uses energy-absorbing cellular cement blocks, designed to crush under the weight of an aircraft, slowing it to a stop.
To date, 128 have been installed worldwide — and have safely stopped 22 aircraft, ranging in size from business jets to a Boeing 747, with a 100% success rate.
In Queenstown, global supplier Runway Safe has been contracted to do the install.
Mr Grace said work would be completed at night and should be finished by the end of summer — there would be no disruption to flight schedules and no changes to the types of aircraft that may land in Queenstown.
