EVEN MINOR VOLCANIC ASH ENCOUNTERS CAN CAUSE MAJOR DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT.

Abstract

SUBTITLE: A RESEARCH AIRCRAFT'S CHANCE ENCOUNTER WITH THE DIFFUSE FRINGES OF AN ASH CLOUD HAS REVEALED THAT SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE CAN OCCUR TO ENGINES WITHOUT THE CREW'S AWARENESS. THE INCIDENT POINTS TO A NEED FOR IMPROVED CLOUD MODELLING AND DEVELOPMENT OF A COST-EFFECTIVE SENSOR FOR DETECTING AIRBORNE PARTICULATES.