easyJet teams up with Airbus and Nicarnica Aviation for high altitude testing of AVOID volcanic ash detection technology

Dr Fred Prata of Nicarnica Aviation, said:

The idea of an on board volcanic ash detection for commercial aircraft first came to me about 20 years ago, so it is with great satisfaction and excitement that easyJet and AIRBUS have now tested the system on an A340 aircraft.

The trials over Toulouse showed us that AVOID works well at high altitude and normal cruise speeds. AVOID imaged clouds 100 nm ahead of the A340 demonstrating for the first time that passive infrared cameras can provide sufficient warning time. A real-time display system on an iPad was used throughout the flights to inform the team of the nature of the clouds ahead.

The next step is to test the system in the vicinity of an ash cloud or possibly to image Saharan dust, which has a similar infrared signature to ash and is also a hazard to commercial and military aircraft.

Axel Krein, SVP Research & Technology at Airbus said:

We are all working towards reducing the impact of volcanic ash clouds, and under these conditions, the infra-red technology being developed in AVOID could prove to become valuable in terms of safely managing air transport in EU, and also optimising flightpaths.

This is why Airbus supports development of such technologies helping to allow the airlines to take necessary decisions for a safe flight under the full knowledge of the overall situation.

Padhraic Kelleher, CAA Head of Airworthiness said:

We now have a range of tools available to reduce the impact of volcanic ash, such as improved forecasting. However, this does not guarantee that disruption will be minimised as much as it safely could be. The CAA therefore welcomes the easyJet, Nicarnica Aviation and Airbus work. If AVOID can deliver the capability promised, then the amount of airspace airlines need to avoid would be reduced.

Last night at Farnborough, in recognition for their work on AVOID, Ian Davies and Dr Fed Prata were named Flightglobal’s Aviators of the Year. The prestigious award is given each year to the individual or team who has done most to advance the cause of safety and operational best practice in the field of aviation. Also on the shortlist were Andre Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard of Solar Impulse, Mark Stucky, test pilot from Scaled Composites and US Marine Corps pilots Major Richard Rusnok and Lt Col Matt Kelly.

How AVOID works

The AVOID system can be likened to a weather radar for ash. Created by Dr Fred Prata of the Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU), the system comprises of infrared technology (developed by the US military) fitted to aircraft to supply images to pilots and an airline’s operations control centre. The images will enable pilots to see an ash cloud, up to 100 km ahead of the aircraft and at altitudes between 5,000ft and 50,000ft, thus allowing them to make small adjustments to the plane’s flight path to avoid any ash cloud. The concept is very similar to weather radars which are standard on commercial airliners today.

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 could open up large areas of airspace that would otherwise be closed during a volcanic eruption, which would benefit passengers by minimising disruption.

Initial testing

AVOID was successfully tested in the skies over Mount Etna and Stromboli in November and December 2011 on a Flight Design CT aircraft at altitudes of up to 12,000ft.

Next phase of testing

The next phase of testing will be to fly the Airbus A340 aircraft near a major volcanic eruption later this year - volcanic activity is likely to take place in areas such as Indonesia, Alaska, Japan and, of course, Iceland, the home of Eyjafjallajökull, which caused unprecedented closure across European airspace in April 2010.

AVOID in action

At the end of testing and an EASA certification process the AVOID system will be ready to go into mass production. easyJet believes that if 100 aircraft (20 of which would be easyJet’s) across Europe were to be fitted with AVOID equipment, this would provide comprehensive coverage of the continent enabling airlines to supply monitoring information to the authorities to support the new processes and procedures that were introduced after the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in 2010. This vital information would enable all airlines to continue to fly safely in line with the CAA guidance of safe flying zones*.

*In the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Volcanic Ash Contingency plan for Europe and North Atlantic, three ash contamination levels have been defined as described below. All modelled ash concentrations are subject to a level of uncertainty. ‘Defined dimensions’ refers to horizontal and vertical limits. 

1. Area of Low Contamination: An airspace of defined dimensions where volcanic ash may be encountered at concentrations equal to or less than 2x10-3 g/m3, but greater than 2x10-4 g/m3. 

2. Area of Medium Contamination: An airspace of defined dimensions where volcanic ash may be encountered at concentrations greater than 2x10-3 g/m3, but less than 4x10-3 g/m3. 

A full report on the CAA guidance for ash contamination levels can be seen: here