EasyJet fits planes with system to avoid ash clouds

The AVOID system on a plane’s engine which supplies images of ash in a flight path, enabling evasive action.

LOW-FARE airline easyJet hopes to use a volcanic ash-detection system from next summer, following successful trials.

The tests of the system — AVOID (airborne volcanic object imaging detector) — were carried out during a two-week period over the constantly active Mount Etna volcano in Sicily and at the nearby active volcano island of Stromboli.

“The testing of the technology is an exciting next step in the journey to get AVOID on to easyJet aircraft which we hope to do by summer 2012,” said engineering head Ian Davies.

An Icelandic volcanic ash cloud caused havoc with flights in Britain and throughout Europe in spring 2010 and there was further, lesser disruption from an eruption in May this year.

AVOID is a system that involves placing infrared technology, developed by the US military, on to an aircraft to supply images to the pilot of ash in their flight path, enabling them to take evasive action if necessary.

The system has been mounted on a microlight aircraft, which has flown over 30 hours to test the equipment.

The technology enables pilots to see an ash cloud ahead of the aircraft at altitudes between 5,000ft and 50,000ft. At 20,000ft ash clouds about 100km away can be detected.

EasyJet said analysis of the two Icelandic eruptions showed that the majority of flight cancellations could have been prevented with AVOID technology.

EasyJet and plane-making company Airbus have agreed to work together on testing the new technology.

AVOID will also be put through a certification process with the European Aviation Safety Agency.