38 AIRFIELD SAFETY October 2026 AirportImprovement.com BOS | ORH aircraft and more operations” as well as enabling larger fuel loads that, in turn, foster more destinations. “It’s about growing service inside of regulations and the space an airport has,” he summarizes. Addressing the issue of price, Thomas points out that both of the replacement EMAS beds at ORH, the BOS deck bed, and the bed scheduled for Hanscom Field together cost around $23 million— slightly less than 20% of the total cost for the runway projects. DeCesare, from WSP, encourages airport operators to fully understand the physical constraints of their airfield, including available land, surrounding development, property boundaries, terrain and environmental considerations. “Those factors often determine whether a standard runway safety area extension is feasible or whether EMAS is the more practical solution,” she explains. “Whenever practical, airports should first evaluate whether the runway safety area can be extended to meet FAA standards,” DeCesare advises. “If site constraints make that impossible, EMAS provides a proven alternative that can deliver the required level of safety without significantly impacting airport operations. Early coordination with the FAA, airport stakeholders and environmental agencies is also critical to identifying the most cost-effective and constructible solution.” Conley adds that runway projects “are becoming increasingly multidisciplinary, requiring engineers to integrate safety, resilience, environmental considerations and constructability into a single solution that supports both current operations and the airport’s long-term vision.” For Dennechuck, EMAS projects boil down to operational safety. “To me, they are a way to keep passengers safe,” she says. “They save lives. They’re important.” Airport progress. Environmental expertise. Helping airports address complex environmental challenges at every stage of a project. hmmh.com NOISE ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AIR QUALITY SUSTAINABILITY Worcester Regional replaced two EMAS beds from 2009 while Runway 11-29 was shut down for repaving and other work.
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