New ash detector could minimise air traffic disruption
UK-based easyJet has unveiled a new technology that could minimise future disruption caused by volcanic activity. easyJet will be the world’s first airline to trial the new technology, called Airborne Volcanic Object Identifier & Detector (AVOID). Essentially a weather radar for ash, the system was developed by Dr Fred Prata of the Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU). AVOID is a system that involves placing infrared technology onto an aircraft to supply images to both the pilots and the airline’s flight control centre. These images will enable pilots to see an ash cloud up to 100 km ahead of the aircraft and at altitudes between 5,000 ft and 50,000 ft, enabling them to adjust the plane’s flight path to avoid any ash cloud. On the ground, information from aircraft with AVOID technology would be used to build an accurate image of the volcanic ash cloud using real-time data. This would open up large areas of airspace that would otherwise be closed during a volcanic eruption. "This pioneering technology is the silver bullet that will make large-scale ash disruption history," said easyJet chief executive Andy Harrison. "The ash detector will enable our aircraft to see and avoid the ash cloud, just like airborne weather radars and weather maps make thunderstorms visible." Andrew Haines, chief executive of the Civil Aviation Authority, said that is essential for the aviation community to work together to develop solutions to minimise disruption, should ash return. "The CAA welcomes the fact that airlines are considering innovations such as this and we will do all we can to facilitate them." The first test flight is to be carried out by Airbus on behalf of easyJet within two months, using an Airbus 340 test aircraft. Subject to the results of these tests, easyJet intends to trial the technology on its own aircraft with a view to installing it on enough aircraft to minimise future disruption from volcanic ash. Quelle: eyefortransport |