Why is the BAK-15 considered an emergency barrier and only installed in the overrun?

Why is the BAK-15 considered an emergency barrier and only installed in the overrun?

• A. Due to long reset times and high cost of component replacement
• B. Because it is easy to redeploy
• C. Because it is lighter than other barriers
• D. Because it is compatible with all aircraft types

Answer: (A)

Emergency barriers are chosen for how they perform after an incident and how feasible they are to reset and repair. The BAK-15 is built as a robust, energy-absorbing barrier that stops an overrunning aircraft, but its reset time is long and the components are expensive to replace after a hit. Because of that, it isn’t practical to place and routinely maintain this barrier along the entire runway. Installing it only in the overrun provides protection where it’s most needed—beyond the runway end—while avoiding the ongoing downtime and high maintenance cost of a barrier that would have to be quickly redeployed and reused many times.

Emergency barriers are chosen for how they perform after an incident and how feasible they are to reset and repair. The BAK-15 is built as a robust, energy-absorbing barrier that stops an overrunning aircraft, but its reset time is long and the components are expensive to replace after a hit. Because of that, it isn’t practical to place and routinely maintain this barrier along the entire runway. Installing it only in the overrun provides protection where it’s most needed—beyond the runway end—while avoiding the ongoing downtime and high maintenance cost of a barrier that would have to be quickly redeployed and reused many times.