Honeywell to probe ash effect on engines
Source: Agencies |
May 29, 2010, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A JET engine maker in the United States is to investigate the effects of volcanic ash on the engines of aircraft that have flown through the plume.
Honeywell Aerospace's engines powered several of the planes sent up to collect scientific data after eruptions of the volcano in southern Iceland in April and May suspended European air travel. The planes, which accumulated dozens of hours of flying in the clouds, were operated by Germany's national aeronautics research center DLR and by the British weather service.
The two TPE331 turboprops that powered the German Dornier 228 have been returned to Phoenix, Arizona, where they will be disassembled and analyzed in detail, Ronald Rich, vice president of propulsion systems at Honeywell, said.
The unprecedented closure of European airspace because of a volcano caused direct losses of more than a billion euros (US$1.3 billion) to the airlines affected, and as much as 1.5 billion euros to other businesses.
Few doubt that flying a plane directly into the plumes of a volcano could disable the aircraft. But it remains unclear whether the abrasive particles present a hazard to the jets outside the immediate area of the volcanic plume, once it is dispersed by high-altitude winds.
Airlines have blamed European regulators for overreacting to what they say was a manageable threat and have demanded internationally recognized standards of ash contamination be set.
Honeywell Aerospace's engines powered several of the planes sent up to collect scientific data after eruptions of the volcano in southern Iceland in April and May suspended European air travel. The planes, which accumulated dozens of hours of flying in the clouds, were operated by Germany's national aeronautics research center DLR and by the British weather service.
The two TPE331 turboprops that powered the German Dornier 228 have been returned to Phoenix, Arizona, where they will be disassembled and analyzed in detail, Ronald Rich, vice president of propulsion systems at Honeywell, said.
The unprecedented closure of European airspace because of a volcano caused direct losses of more than a billion euros (US$1.3 billion) to the airlines affected, and as much as 1.5 billion euros to other businesses.
Few doubt that flying a plane directly into the plumes of a volcano could disable the aircraft. But it remains unclear whether the abrasive particles present a hazard to the jets outside the immediate area of the volcanic plume, once it is dispersed by high-altitude winds.
Airlines have blamed European regulators for overreacting to what they say was a manageable threat and have demanded internationally recognized standards of ash contamination be set.
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