The first-ever important artificial ash cloud for testing latest technology that is capable of detecting and guessing concentrations of volcanic residue released in atmosphere has been successfully built. The technology has been built by Airbus, easyJet and Norwegian sensing specialist Nicarnica Aviation.

An A400M airlifter had scattered a tonne of Icelandic residue into the atmosphere from a height of 9,000ft to 11,000ft, thereby generating circumstances consistent with volcanic eruptions in Iceland that occurred in
2010.

Another Airbus test aircraft, an A340-300 fitted with the AVOID technology flew towards the ash cloud recognizing and gauging it from about 60km away.

At the time of the test, the ash cloud that was created was about 600ft to 800ft deep and was having a diameter of 2.8km. The test has gathered universal attention because of its capability to precisely identify ash clouds from on-board aircraft providing the chance for flights to be operated with larger safety in volcanic eruptions.

The AVOID system can be compared to a weather radar for ash. The system makes use of infrared technology that is fitted in the aircraft to provide images to pilots and an airline's operations control centre.

The images will allow pilots to observe an ash cloud, up to 100km in front of the aircraft and at height from 5,000ft to 50,000ft, thus permitting them to make small changes to the flight path of the plane so as to avoid any ash cloud.