Definition
A paved area at the end of a runway made of crushable material designed to safely decelerate an aircraft that overruns the runway. The aircraft's wheels sink into the material, which absorbs energy and brings the aircraft to a stop with minimal damage.
Plain English
A special crushable surface built at the end of some runways. If a plane runs off the end, the surface crumbles under the wheels and stops the plane safely.
Context Anchor
You will see this term in runway safety, airport layout, and EMAS discussions, especially when learning what is installed beyond some runway ends.
Derivation
From 'arrest' (to stop) and 'bed' (a layer of material). The name describes exactly what it does: a layer of material that arrests the aircraft.
Why Pilots Care
It gives pilots an extra margin of safety during runway overruns, reducing the chance of aircraft damage or injury when the runway is too short or conditions are poor.
Analogy
Like a runaway truck ramp on a steep mountain road -- a safety zone made of soft material that stops a vehicle quickly without a crash.
Grounding Statement
Picture a wide pad past the runway end that gives way under the aircraft’s wheels so the aircraft loses speed quickly.
Intuition Check
Do not think of an arrestor bed as a normal stopping area or an extra piece of usable runway. It is an emergency safety area designed to slow an aircraft only after it has gone off the runway end.
Example Sentence 1
The pilot was thankful the airport had an arrestor bed when the brakes failed during landing rollout.
Example Sentence 2
After heavy rain, the arrestor bed remained effective because its crushable blocks were designed to drain water quickly.