Belgium's radar test helps detect volcanic ash

According to a reporter in Brussels, on 28 October, Belgium conducted a radar detector test of volcanic ash over the Bay of Biscay.

In the test program, an Airbus A400M freighter aircraft discharged several tons of volcanic ash over the Biscay Bay at an altitude of about 3,000-4,000 meters above sea level.

The second plane, the A340 commercial aircraft, flies at various altitudes near the ash cloud to measure the effectiveness of the radar detector. The third aircraft - the Düsseldorf University's helicopter, evaluates the optical properties within the volcanic ash cloud.

Volcanic ash. (Photo: AFP / VNA)

According to experts, radar detectors are very effective for aerospace ash, as the cloud of artificial ash can contain about 1 mg of dust / m ^{3 of} air. This density is enough to damage an aircraft engine in operation.

Dr Fred Prata, of the Norwegian Institute for Radiation and Atmospheric Research, said thick dust was the main cause of the risk for aircraft.

So, when installing a volcanic ash cloud detector on an airplane, the pilot will be immediately alerted to the presence of a volcanic ash cloud that can range from about 100km 1,500-15,000m.

The resulting image will allow for a change of orbit to avoid this ash cloud. The extensive testing of the Gascogne Bay will be the main stage before the radar is widely sold.

To avoid the huge cost of air paralysis caused by the volcanic ash cloud, Airbus and Easyjet jointly funded the study.

According to the Belgian magazine Nature, the discovery of volcanic ash in Biscay Bay alone costs about 500,000 euros.