Airline in volcanic ash test plea

Budget carrier EasyJet said last summer it hoped to have the detection system installed on 12 of its planes by the end of 2010.

But although some progress has been made, the system – known as Avoid (Airborne Volcanic Object Identifier and Detector) – has yet to go on to any passenger aircraft.

The carrier is investing £1m in Avoid, which is the brainchild of scientist Fred Pata, of the Norwegian Institute for Air Research .

EasyJet said the Avoid prototype was ready to test but needs European Aviation Safety Agency approval and also European Community financial support.