Question: Why Volcanic Ash is Dangerous for Air Travel - Volcanic Ash Hazards and Aircraft
Looking at the reasons why it is so dangerous for aircraft to fly in air with volcanic ash. What makes flying into air laced with volcanic ash such a hazard for airplanes.
Answer: Some of the major reasons why volcanic ash is so hazardous to flying:
- Volcanic ash is razor-sharp debris from an active volcano. Jet engines can suck in volcanic ash and it can severely stall or shut down an engine. There are instances in the past where this occurred, and planes can simply plummet.
- The debris can interfere with sensors that indicate if the fuel system is too hot or cold. In the case of volcanic ash, it seems that it leaves sensors indicating an aircraft is too cool, and will cause overheating.
- Clouds of volcanic ash can act similar to a sand storm, and be blinding for the pilots.
- Weather radar cannot pick up volcanic ash as the particles are so fine, so it makes it exceedingly difficult to avoid in the air.