Protecting airspace infrastructure: A tool for calculating along-flight volcanic ash dosage

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The main objective of this project is to collaborate with aviation stakeholders (airspace regulators, airline operators, air traffic controllers and engine manufacturers) to enable the UK airspace infrastructure sector to use existing environmental science to minimize the risk of volcanic ash to aircraft. The specific project partners for this project are the Civil Aviation Authority (the UK's airspace infrastructure regulator), and British Airways (one of the UK's largest airline operators). The challenge facing the CAA is that new aircraft engine susceptibility guidelines from the engine manufacturers describe engine tolerance limits in terms of a dosage (i.e accumulated concentration over time) rather than a peak concentration. However, there are no fit-for-purpose tools for the aviation industry to estimate along-flight volcanic ash dosage. The CAA thus need new tools to support any decision to change volcanic ash regulations from current peak ash concentration limits to along-flight ash dosage limits. The challenge facing BA is, given such a change in regulation, how to plan safe flight-routes and evaluate post-flight exposure to volcanic ash. In this project we will address these challenges by combining volcanic ash concentration charts and optimal flight-routing software to create a proof-of-concept tool which will allow along-flight ash dosages and the associated uncertainty to be calculated for the first time. We will use this tool to determine the sensitivity of along-flight ash dosage estimations to the spatial and temporal resolution of the volcanic ash information. This will be achieved by combining volcanic ash data, generated during the NERC funded PURE programme, with time optimum routing software, developed as part of the NERC funded EXTRA project.The new knowledge developed in the project will be used by the CAA to support strategic decision making and will enable new regulations to be developed that are based on the latest understanding of volcanic ash hazard to aircraft engines. These new regulations will result in a more resilient UK airspace infrastructure. The proof-of-concept tools developed in the project will demonstrate how airline operators, such as British Airways, could implement these changes in operational flight planning procedures. This tool will also encourage the use of uncertainty information in operational decision making procedures. In summary, the project will take existing research and translate it into information that is relevant to the aviation industry leading to clear benefits for the whole aviation sector. The project will last 12 months and cost £111k at 80% FEC