Why Can't Planes Fly Through Volcanic Ash? NASA Found Out

Monday, April 19, 2010 - 12:42 in Earth & Climate

If you've been anywhere near a television or Web enabled device in the last week (and you must have been), you know that a volcanic eruption in Iceland has grounded airline flights across Europe and even halted a few flights into the northeastern-most areas of Canada. What you probably don't know is how to pronounce the name of the volcano (Eyjafjallajökull) or why an eruption in Iceland is grounding flights in London, Madrid and Berlin. Related ArticlesIceland's Geothermal BailoutSwiss Team Breaks Record for Around-the-World Flight, Despite Encountering Volcanic EruptionGamblers Take Odds on the Next Violent Volcanic EruptionTagsScience, Clay Dillow, air disaster, airlines, geology, iceland, nasa, volcano, vulcanologyAfter all, planes fly through lightning storms, heavy fog and the occasional flock of geese and come out fine on the other side with amazing consistency. But a volcanic ash cloud presents it's own unique set of problems, particularly to an aircraft engine's working parts....

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