Volcanic Ash – NOT AGAIN!!!!

A new volcanic eruption in Iceland yesterday triggered fear of a repeat of last year’s air chaos. Last year 100,000 flights were grounded and millions of passengers were stranded when Eyjafjallajokull erupted spreading ash over Northern Europe, with  much scepticism amongst the public as to whether authorities overreacted to the incident.

With over 50 years’ experience providing Environmental Testing and Consultancy services to the Aerospace Industry, TÜV SÜD Product Service experts are well aware of the risks associated with Volcanic Ash particles entering an aircraft system.

As these particular hazardous events occur relatively infrequently, Aircraft systems are not  designed to withstand Volcanic Ash particles. If Aircraft were to fly through ash clouds, there would be a significant risk of:

• Engine failure from the accumulation of ash on turbine blades caused by fusing of the silica particles at around 1100°C.
• Contamination within the passenger compartment as well as interference with internal systems and controls through ash particles penetrating the aircraft.
• Abrasion of all forward facing surfaces e.g. cockpit windows, control surfaces and wing leading edges.
• The aircraft becoming tail heavy due to ash particles coating the outside of the aircraft.

TÜV SÜD Product Service offers a range of sand and dust tests to a number of key players in the Aerospace Industry and is accredited to perform all the major industry standard tests including DEF STAN 07-55, MIL STD 810 and RTCA DO-160 from its one-stop test lab facilities in Fareham, UK.

Leaders in EMC Testing , Environmental Testing, Safety Testing, Radio and Telecoms Testing, CE Marking, Vibration Testing, Climatic Testing, Certification, Training and Consulting.