EasyJet to test volcanic ash radar

Budget airline unveils new technology that could help planes dodge ash clouds.

Eastjet to test new technology - volcanic ash - passengers - airport

New technology that could minimise future disruption to air traffic from volcanic ash has been unveiled by budget airline EasyJet.

The British airline will be the first to trial a new ”weather radar for ash” system called AVOID (Airborne Volcanic Object Identifier and Detector).

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Volcano chaos

The system involves placing infrared technology onto an aircraft to supply images to both the pilots and an airline’s flight control centre.

It is an attempt to prevent a repeat of April’s airspace shutdown, after an Icelandic volcano erupted.

The disruption cost airlines nearly $3bn and stranded thousands of passengers.

Al Jazeera’s Emma Hayward reports on the aircraft-mounted radar that could help prevent future airspace closures.

Source: Al Jazeera