by Margery Wilson

EasyJet, Europe’s leading low-cost airline,  has unveiled a new system, called Airborne Volcanic Object Identifier and Detector (AVOID), that it is hoped will prevent future airspace disruptions due to volcanic ash which caused such major upheaval in Europe earlier this year.

The device incorporates infra-red technology that highlights potentially damaging particles at a distance great enough to allow the pilot to change course and safely avoid the dangerous ash clouds.

AVOID will be tested by Airbus on behalf of Easyjet within the next two months, and it is hoped the system will be on a dozen easyJet planes by the end of the year.

The system has the backing of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which has jurisdiction over decisions whether it is safe for aircraft to fly through ash or not.  CAA has come under criticism for being “overly cautious” stance during the recent airspace closures.

Andy Harrison, EasyJet’s CEO, said: “This pioneering technology is the silver bullet that will make large-scale ash disruption history. The ash detector will enable our aircraft to see and avoid the ash cloud, just like airborne weather radars and weather maps make thunderstorms visible.”

The AVOID system will require approval by European regulators. The CAA said it was happy an airline appeared to have found a technical solution, and, although it was not endorsing the product it would do what it could to aid certification.

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