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13 December 2011 13:32
EasyJet hopes to install a volcanic ash detection system on its aircraft by next year
Budget airline EasyJet hopes to install a volcanic ash detection system on its aircraft by next year.
The new system called AVOID (airborne volcanic object imaging detector) could help prevent unnecessary disruption from volcanic ash clouds.
AVOID, which has been successfully tested over the constantly active Mount Etna volcano in Sicily and at nearby active volcano island of Stromboli, involves two wing-based infrared cameras that can detect particles of ash in the air up to 60 miles ahead.
Developed by the US military, the technology enables pilots to detect an ash cloud ahead at altitudes between 5,000 and 50,000ft, allowing them to make adjustments to the plane's flight path to avoid any ash cloud.
With the use of the technology, airlines could cut down the number of flight cancellations due to ash clouds and associated travel insurance claims.
The device has been installed on a microlight aircraft which has flown more than 30 hours to test the equipment.
Ian Davies, easyJet's engineering head, said: "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."
02 March 2019
A Flybe flight was forced to abort take-off due to the cabin filling with "smoke" while it was accelerating along the runway at Exeter Airport.
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01 March 2019
Holidaymakers will soon be able to take advantage of the first direct flight from London to Scotland's Western Isles after Loganair announced three new routes.
28 February 2019
Over one in five women in the UK wrongly think a smear test can detect ovarian cancer, new research has revealed.
27 February 2019
One in 10 UK adults over the age of 40 is living with Type 2 diabetes, new analysis suggests - but the real figure could be much higher.
26 February 2019
British Airways has revealed the second of its series of retro liveries being recreated as part of the airline's 100th birthday celebrations.
23 February 2019
The price of a prescription in England is set to rise again, the Government has announced, in a move some campaigners have called disappointing.
22 February 2019
Just half an hour of exercise every morning could be as effective as drugs at lowering daily blood pressure, research suggests.
21 February 2019
A British man accidentally used the wrong passport to fly from Prague to the UK, leaving his friend stranded in the Czech capital.
19 February 2019
Hundreds of passengers have had their travel plans cancelled following the collapse of airline flybmi.
16 February 2019
Holidaymakers were left fuming after a "lack of clarity" over Brexit led a Romanian airline to cancel flights from Liverpool's John Lennon Airport.
15 February 2019
British Airways celebrated Valentine's Day with a special flight where all members of the cabin crew were couples who work for the airline.
14 February 2019
The "concerning" level of stigma surrounding the human papilloma virus (HPV) could be putting some women off going for vital check-ups, campaigners are warning.