Summary. For the Turkish Air Force, YTEK Yeni Teknoloji converted the lifting system of an emergency aircraft arresting net barrier from pneumatic to hydraulic drive. The retrofit, installed in Kayseri, restored fast and reliable deployment in cold weather and was delivered in 2020. The system remains in service.
Requirement
The net barrier stops aircraft that lose control on the runway and cannot brake to a halt. In an emergency, the net must rise from the ground within seconds. The original pneumatic drive lost performance in cold weather: the net opened slowly or did not reach full height, which is unacceptable for a safety-critical system. The client required a drive that performs consistently in all weather, integrated into the existing barrier structure.
Engineering solution
- Hydraulic cylinder drive: replaces the pneumatic actuators and delivers consistent force and speed regardless of ambient temperature.
- Integration with the existing structure: the hydraulic system was designed around the original stanchions and foundations, avoiding a full replacement.
- Fast deployment and locking: the two lifting units, set 50–75 m apart, raise the 600 kg net to 3 m in 2 seconds; a locking mechanism holds the net in the open position.
- Remote and local control: a hydraulic system supplied with 380 V three-phase AC, with 24 V controls, lets operators deploy the barrier from a safe distance or at the units.
- Manual override: in the event of power loss, the system can still deploy the net once.
Scope of work
YTEK designed the hydraulic system for the existing barrier structure and carried out its assembly and the control system.
System operation
On command, the hydraulic cylinders in the left and right lifting units raise the net from ground level to 3 m in 2 seconds, forming a barrier across the runway, and the locking mechanism holds it open. The 50–75 m span between the units is configured to each runway. After use, the net is lowered back to the ground.
Outcome
Delivered in 2020 and still in service. The hydraulic drive removed the cold-weather performance loss of the pneumatic system and gives the operator a barrier that deploys fully and on time.
Frequently asked questions
Why convert from pneumatic to hydraulic?
In cold weather the pneumatic drive lost performance and the net opened slowly or not fully. A hydraulic drive delivers the same force and speed in all conditions.
How quickly does the net rise?
The two lifting units raise the 600 kg net to 3 m in 2 seconds.
Can the system be adapted to other runways?
Yes. The span between the lifting units, 50–75 m in this installation, is configured to the width of each runway.