Volcanic Ash Detectors For Jets
Important Air Safety Equipment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_travel_disruption_after_the_2010_Eyjafjallaj%C3%B6kull_eruption
Ash Detectors are primarily for helping aircraft detect and map volcanic ash clouds, like those that happened in Iceland in 2010. Because this and other volcanoes may erupt for years at a time and release a lot of ash over air routes, ash detectors can help identify safe routes through (or rather, around) ash clouds in order to prevent the extensive damage that can be caused to jet engines. Most jet engine manufacturers recommend zero ash presence for safe flying, based on experience in flying through volcanic ashes that may not otherwise be visible without detectors. It is also difficult to visually differentiate between an ash cloud and a normal one, so ash detectors and their technology will help map these hazards for planes that have the detector and air traffic control, who can route other planes around ash hazards.
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Notes and Special Information
Special note: Ash detection technology will certainly improve over time.