Fri, Feb 24, 2012
NASA-Derived Technology Enables Accurate Volcanic-Ash
Assessment At Airport In Argentina
At the request of the Argentinean Ministry of Defense, a LiDAR
system developed by Sigma Space was installed at Bariloche airport
in Argentina on January 30th. Since the June 2011 eruption of the
Chilean Puyehue, Bariloche has been suffering from intermittent ash
clouds blowing from the volcano, and the airport in Bariloche has
been closed much of the time since the eruption. Sigma
Space’s portable and highly automated Micro Pulse LiDAR (MPL)
system was able to be rapidly deployed.
Volcanic ash has been a recurrent impediment to normal
air-traffic operations in Europe, Asia and South America over the
last few years. Sigma’s MPL permits determination of ash
concentration profile every few seconds. "With the new equipment,
companies will have an accurate picture of ash clouds, which will
enable them to cancel flights only in extreme conditions of
concentration of particles in the air," said Hector Ciappesoni,
director of the Meteorological Service of Argentina.
"This equipment brings the airport to the highest safety
standards," said Rio Negro governor Alberto Weretilneck. He
highlighted that the quick response of the Defense Ministry to the
order of the President, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, enabled the
airport to operate normally since procuring the LiDAR.
Marcos Sirota, president of Sigma Space and an Argentina native,
traveled to Bariloche to personally supervise the installation of
the MPL. “After calibration we will be able to provide
quantitative information in real time. LiDAR networks will be able
to report both vertical and regional ash distribution worldwide. A
true breakthrough for aviation,” he said.
The World Meteorological Association (WMO) is developing new
standards for the incorporation of LiDAR information into regular
forecasts worldwide, as LiDAR measurements could provide a
comprehensive assessment of ash distribution in flight corridors.
Sigma Space Corporation produces pioneering LiDAR instrumentation,
laser ranging, attitude determination, spectroscopy, and radiometry
for remote sensing and defense applications. Sigma Space also
supplies advanced science and engineering services to government
customers. (Photo provided by Sigma Space)
More News
Circle To Runway (Runway Number) Used by ATC to inform the pilot that he/she must circle to land because the runway in use is other than the runway aligned with the instrument appr>[...]
Aero Linx: National Aviation Safety Foundation (NASF) The National Aviation Safety Foundation is a support group whose objective is to enhance aviation safety through educational p>[...]
At Altitude Of About 250-300 Ft Agl, The Airplane Experienced A Total Loss Of Engine Power On November 6, 2024, at 1600 central standard time, a De Havilland DHC-1, N420TD, was inv>[...]
From 2009 (YouTube Edition): Three Hour Flight Was 'Flawless' -- At Least, Until Mother Nature Intervened For anyone who loves the aviation business, this was a VERY good day. Afte>[...]
Also: AMA Names Tyler Dobbs, More Falcon 9 Ops, Firefly Launch Unsuccessful, Autonomous F-16s The Air Force has begun ground testing a future uncrewed jet design in a milestone tow>[...]
ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.05.25): Circle To Runway (Runway Number)
See All