India braces for disruption of air travel after Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano erupts, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted on Sunday, posing a threat to air travel in India.
• The DGCA has issued advisories for airlines to avoid affected areas and altitudes.
• Volcanic ash clouds entered the Indian subcontinent via Rajasthan on Monday.
• The ash clouds are expected to move across central India, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.

Detailed Insights:

• Volcanic ash can damage aircraft engines due to its abrasive, glass-like particles that melt at high temperatures and can solidify on turbine blades.
• Airlines are instructed to report any suspected impact of ash on engine performance, cabin smoke, or odour to ensure proactive safety measures.
• Airports are advised to inspect runways for contamination and suspend or restrict flight operations if necessary to mitigate risks.
• The ash clouds travelled over Yemen and Oman before entering India, indicating the wide-reaching impact of volcanic eruptions on air travel.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Volcanic Ash: Fine particles of rock, minerals, and glass ejected during a volcanic eruption.
• DGCA: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the regulatory body for civil aviation in India.
• Turbine Blades: Rotating components in an aircraft engine that extract energy from the flow of gas.