easyJet announce sucessful trial of ash cloud detection system
08.12.11
New technology that could prevent flight disruption from ash clouds has been successfully trialled by easyJet. Called AVOID (Airborne Volcanic Object Imaging Detector), they hope the system will allow planes to fly through ash clouds by using infra-red cameras to detect and fly around the densest, and therefore most dangerous, areas.
easyJet tested the system using a microlight aircraft over Mount Etna. The airline said the trials were successful and it hopes to install the equipment on its planes next year. Doctor Fred Prata, who invented the system, said it could have kept flights running during last year's Icelandic ash cloud, which stranded an estimated 10 million air passengers.
However, the new technology could be needed sooner than next year. Experts are predicting that an new Icelandic volcano, Katia, will be the next to erupt. They also believe that it will be on a scale far larger than Eyjafjallajökul.
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