Easy protection from volcanic ash threat

Budget airline Easyjet has developed a device that it claims will enable pilots to avoid dangerous ash clouds of the kind that grounded over 100,000 aircraft last year when the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland erupted.

The grounding of the aircraft left ten million people stranded, a perecentage of whom found themselves out of pocket because their travel insurance excluded claims related to volcanic ash. Travel insurance that covers volcanic ash eruptions is available from the ETA

The Airborne Volcanic Object Imaging Detector (Avoid) uses infra-red cameras to detect the tiny particles of quartz in the air that can damage aircarft engines. According to the airline, if 100 aircraft were fitted with the Avoid system, enough data could be collected to pinpoint ask clouds when the next eruption takes place.

The volcano Katla may have a name easier to remember than its infamous neighbour, but it is considerably larger and, according to volcanologists, it is ready to erupt. The Avoid system is at least one year away from being operationally ready.

Best protection from volcanic ash

Travel insurance from the ETA covers your holiday against disruption caused by volcanic ash as long as the cover is taken out before an eruption starts. In other words, holiday makers travelling next year who would lkie to cover thjemselves against volcanic ash disruption would be well-advised to book their cover now.