Electromagnetic aircraft arrestor system

1. Field of the Invention A system and method for electromagnetically arresting an aircraft landing on an undersized runway, as on an aircraft carrier. The system preferably comprises a cross-deck pendant cable coupled to two purchase cables that are wound around low inertia purchase cable spools on opposite ends. The shafts of the purchase cable spools are mechanically coupled to one or more low inertia induction machines used to arrest the landing aircraft. As the aircraft contacts the cross-deck pendant cable and extends the purchase cables down the runway, power electronics in the system apply a torque based on closed-loop feedback to the induction machine acting as a generator, and the mechanical energy of the aircraft is converted to electrical energy at the generator and is dissipated as heat in an attached resistor. The one or more induction machines are preferably cup-type generators, and the generators may be briefly run as motors to initially reduce the tension on the purchase cables.