April 2010 Eruption Of Eyjafjallajökull Caused Massive Financial Losses

Der Spiegel reports that the eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano in April of 2010 resulted in the greatest closure of European airspace since World War II, stranded millions of passengers, and caused losses of 5 billion euro. It also led to clashes between the airlines, which sustained heavy financial losses, and regulators set on guaranteeing safety regardless of costs. The eruption led to renewed discussion of just how much volcanic ash really threatens airline safety, and the development of new technologies to better match the response to the risk.

Easyjet, a budget airline, now says it plans to equip 20 of its planes with a device called "Avoid," developed by Fred Prata of the Norwegian Institute for Air Research. The device claims to be able to discern between rain clouds and ash clouds at 20 kilometers out, or about 12 miles. It uses a wing-mounted carbon tube and two infrared cameras to detect silicate, the ingredient of volcanic ash of most concern in turbine engines.

A German research team flew a piston plane into an ash cloud produced last month by Italy's Mt. Etna, and confirmed Avoid's detection technique by comparing results to those of a laser spectrometer. Further tests are planned, but are contingent on the next significant volcanic eruption.

Katla, a volcano near the one which cased the massive problems in 2010, is considered due for an eruption which could dwarf that of Eyjafjallajökull. Easyjet says if 100 airliners across Europe could be equipped with Avoid, "then we would achieve a comprehensive safeguard for Europe."

FMI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_eruptions_of_Eyjafjallaj%C3%B6kull