A new piece of equipment designed to detect the density of ash clouds is currently being tested over Mount Etna on the island of Sicily. The equipment has been designed and tested to try and stop future closures of airspace following volcanic eruptions. In the summer of 2011 an Icelandic volcano forced the grounding of all flights in Europe for over one week, costing the airline industry an estimated $1.7billion. Research after the event showed that most of the cloud was actually safe to fly throw, but there was no way of pilots knowing. Therefore, a device is being tested to detect safe ash clouds densities and it is hoped in the future that it will be fitted to all commercial planes.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16077139
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