Safety is such a big issue now that there is a public outcry to amend the problems plaguing the world's runways. Disasters like the Taca Airlines Flight 390 (which overshot the short runway and crashed killing 5 and endangering about 130 surviving passengers) are only to be expected at Toncontin International Airport where the runway is notorious for being too short. Furthermore, the end of that runway is curtailed geographically by a steep drop, and public thoroughfare, and otherwise hemmed in by city buildings.
In fact, the statement issued by the International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations inferred that the Honduras Airport is "noncompliant with internationally agreed minimum standards for runway end safety areas." The statement is based on ICAO published standards which state "runways on international airports should have a safety area that extend at least 295 feet."
The solution preferred by commercial pilots would be a thousand foot runway overrun and/or soft ground bed systems designed to slow down planes. Soft ground bed systems using crushable concrete (EMAS) have proved a practical solution where longer runways were not workable due to city congestion and lack of available acreage.
* Read about Engineered Material Arresting Systems at What's at the end of your Runway in the March IFALPA Interpilot Journal .pdf.
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