Fred Prata, a senior scientist at the Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU), demonstrated the novel AVOID, a volcanic ash camera to the European media, after performing successful flight experiments across Stromboli and Mount Etna volcano in Italy for 10 days.
Fred Prata’s new AVOID volcanic ash camera in NILU
The Norwegian AVOID volcanic ash camera is capable of detecting the ash particles produced by a volcanic eruption in the airspace for a distance of up to 100 km ahead of the airplane, which enables the pilots to move away from the ash cloud within 5 to 10 minutes. The Norwegian ash camera can effectively operate during both night and day. In the coming years, this new ash camera will be used as a standard device in all passenger airplanes. The UK airline easyJet has ordered the Norwegian AVOID cameras for installation on twenty Airbus jetliners during the next year.
Researcher, Fred Prata conceptualized the volcanic ash camera five years back, which was poorly received in his home country hence he presented his idea to NILU and Norway. Dr Fred Prata stated that in NILU and Norway, he was given a conducive research environment, which helped him to realize and develop his idea. He said that UK easyJet, a key player and a significant customer is keen to install the camera in collaboration with Airbus. He also added that the airline is looking forward to install AVOID, since this country is highly exposed to ash clouds caused due to eruption of volcanoes in Iceland.
Fred Prata’s AVOID can be suitably employed in all kinds of airplanes. Nicarnica that belongs jointly to NILU, Norsk Innovasjonskapital and Campus Kjeller will handle the sales of the AVOID volcanic ash camera. The Research Council of Norway will provide funds for Campus Kjeller, which is a Technology Transfer Office (TTO).