Transport Ministry officials said most South Korean airports were built based on International Civil Aviation Organization rules that recommend a 240metre runway end safety area, though a domestic law allows adjusting the location of some installations within a range that does not “significantly affect the performance of the facility”.
“But we’ll look into whether there are any conflicts in our own regulations, and conduct an additional review of our airport safety standards,” Kim Hong-rak, director general for airport and air navigation facilities policy, told a briefing. The US Federal Aviation Authority uses different standards, Kim added.
John Cox, CEO of Safety Operating Systems and former 737 pilot, said the runway design “absolutely (did) not” meet industry best practices, which preclude any hard structure like a berm within at least 300m of the runway’s end. The airport’s concrete berm appears to be less than half that distance from the end of the pavement, according to Reuters’ analysis of satellite images.
South Korean officials have said it is about 250m from the end of the runway itself, though a paved apron extends past that.
The plane appeared in video footage to be slowing down and in control when it went off the runway, Cox said. “When it hits that berm is when it turns into tragedy.”
