Lack Of Volcanic Ash Data Worries Industry

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=awst&id=news/awst/2010/04/26/AW_04_26_2010_p24-221612.xml

One of the most important lessons to emerge out of the past few days is how little is known about the real danger of flying through volcanic ash. Industry has a host of anecdotal evidence. Some of it suggests the danger is real, such as the 1982 engine shutdown suffered by a British Airways Boeing 747; other indicators suggest it is not, including several repositioning flights undertaken by European carriers in recent days. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has recorded 80 incidents in the past 15 years where aircraft unexpectedly encountered volcanic ash.