US FAA funds system to prevent accidents involving runaway airplanes

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) -The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday touted the reopening of a runway at Philadelphia International Airport through the installation of a system to stop a runaway airplane. The FAA awarded $8.5 million last year for the airport's first Engineered Material Arresting System, which is a series of 2,000 tiles designed to stop an overrunning aircraft traveling at speeds of up to 70 knots. The system uses crushable material installed, which is compressed by the airplane's landing gear.