On December 29, a tragic air accident occurred at Muan Airport, South Korea, killing almost all passengers and crew on board.
According to South Korean authorities, the landing incident occurred after the plane's landing gear system malfunctioned. This forced the crew to make an emergency belly landing after the first landing attempt failed.
So why would a problem with the landing gear affect the plane's braking system, which is designed to ensure the safety of the plane itself and the passengers inside?
According to Monroe Aerospace, a reputable industrial manufacturer in the aerospace industry, landing is a phase that requires the perfect combination of different components in the aircraft's braking system, including thrust reversers, spoilers, and wheel brakes. These systems not only reduce speed but also ensure absolute safety for passengers.
Thrust reversers, mounted on the engines, play a key role in slowing the plane after it hits the runway. Instead of creating a flow of air that pushes the plane forward as it does during flight, the reversers change the direction of the airflow, creating reverse thrust to rapidly slow it down.
When the plane touches down, another part of the aircraft braking system, the spoiler, is automatically activated. Not only do they block the airflow from the reversers, they also reduce lift, increasing the weight on the wheels, making the wheel braking system more effective.
After the plane touches down, the last important part of the aircraft braking system, the wheel brakes, begins to work. The strong friction between the wheels and the runway creates white smoke, a result of the high temperature friction. The aircraft tires, although compact, are specially designed with composite rubber, steel cord and nylon, to withstand the enormous weight and high friction in harsh conditions.
Aircraft tires are inflated with high-pressure nitrogen, 6 times higher than normal car tires, to ensure durability. Combined with the optimal design, aircraft tires have good load-bearing capacity, ensuring safety in all situations.
Not only airplanes, airport runways are also built with a special structure, including many layers from gravel to cement concrete at least 30cm thick. At airports serving large aircraft or harsh weather conditions, this thickness can be up to 50cm, helping the runway withstand large weights and environmental impacts.
Every part of an aircraft’s braking system is designed and manufactured to the highest standards. From the engine to the tires to the runway, everything works together to ensure safe flights. Yet, in reality, the aviation industry around the world still records rare, even catastrophic incidents like the one that just happened to a Jeju Air plane at Muan Airport in South Korea.
