Aero Magazine International - April 2018

8 | MAGAZINE^02

CURIOSITY

2

VOLCANOES AND AVIATION

Earlier this year, Indonesia issued light warnings

around Mount Sinabung volcano, which had its biggest

eruption in recent times. he gigantic ash cloud reached an

altitude of 7,276 m, going towards the north of the Island

of Sumatra. Governments were afraid that the volcano, one

of the world’s most active, could enter into a large scale

eruption stage, partially or totally impeding lights in the

region with the world’s highest air traic growth. Volca-

noes and aviation have an intrinsic relationship. Data are

impressive.

ACTUAL DAMAGES

In June 1982, the Boeing 747-200 that

carried out the flight Speedbird 9 of British

Airways, between Heathrow and Auckland

in New Zealand, entered an ash cloud

near the island of Java, Indonesia.

In a few seconds, the four engines

stopped working. After numberless

attempts, the pilots were able to keep

three engines working and made an

emergency landing.

In December 1989, a KLM 747-

400 flying to Anchorage, in Alaska,

crossed a cloud generated by the

eruption of Mount Redoubt volcano.

For a short while, the four engines

stopped. Although they were restarted,

the pilots verified troubles in the electric

system, damages in the windshields

and in several mechanical and structural

components.

FIRE CIRCLE

Every year, between 40 and 70

volcanoes enter eruption around the

world. Today, there are 36 volcanoes

with activity, some of them in the

bottom of the ocean.

The so-called Pacific Fire Circle is

a region of great instability, which

extends from Southern Chile to New

Zealand. Out of the 36 active volcanoes

in 2018, no less than 28 are in this

region.