Foamy Marshmallow Concrete Runway – Chinese Breakthrough Technology for Crash Landings
With an ultra-light foam like material, the Marshmallow Concrete Runway has been implemented at 14 airports
In response to the rising number of air accidents, China has begun taking revolutionary steps to modernize and integrate its aviation system, as Chinese scientists have developed a new type of marshmallow concrete runway system for airport runways, designed to maximize safety during emergency landings. This ultra-light concrete runway safety system significantly reduces an uncontrolled aircraft’s landing speed and provides strong protection against ground impact.
The China Building MeterBlaze Academy (CBMA) Co., Ltd., the China Academy of Civil Aviation Science and Technology, and a tech firm affiliated with the Beijing Science Academy have played a key role in this innovation. Research and Development Engineer Feng Jun stated that marshmallow concrete weighs only 200 kilograms per cubic meter. The material creates a soft barrier that absorbs significant kinetic energy upon impact.
According to international civil aviation regulations, runways are typically required to be at least 90 meters wide, with the surrounding radius consisting of water pools and grassland. However, in winter, frozen ponds attract birds, posing safety hazards, and soil surfaces are vulnerable to changes in humidity and temperature, making them mechanically unstable.
Feng Jun explained that airstrips made from calcium sulfoaluminate cement and ultra-soft marshmallow concrete offer additional stability, helping aircraft maintain balance during emergency landings. The Chinese team aims to develop a reliable and durable formula using ordinary cement.
He further noted that the system has now been implemented at 14 airports nationwide, and a successful test case was conducted at Tibet Airport. “Takeoff and landing are the most critical phases of flight. Accidents often happen during these times, so having a reliable safety system in place is crucial,” he added.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Chinese authorities began taking these revolutionary steps following the crash of a Chinese Boeing 737-800 in March 2022, which occurred during landing. The cause of the crash remains undisclosed, and all 132 people on board were killed.
