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Keeping Going In Adverse Conditions

Posted by philgnorris on May 25, 2011
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Editor Phil

Phil The Editor

This week, I am concentrating on the functioning of engineered systems in adverse conditions prompted first by the news that Icelandic volcanic ash is again causing disruption to the airways of the UK and Northern Europe. We can all remember and many will have experienced the misery and expense  of trying to get home from holiday in the face of such massive breakdown in air communications.  This puts a spotlight on the reliance that western society now places on its engineering systems and communications.

Last year European aviation authorities took no chances when the ash plume from Eyjafjallajokull volcano and grounded thousands of flights on the basis that the ash particles were largely siliceous, angular and would quickly erode engine parts and ‘sandblast’ windscreens and other critical parts with perhaps catastrophic effects to the safety of the flying crew and public.

There was good reason for this caution as previously in 1982, a British Airways Jumbo jet lost power in all its 4 engines whilst flying near a volcanic ash cloud over Indonesia.   It was fortunate indeed that the crew managed to re-light the engines at low altitude after losing some 30,000 feet.   It was reported that some accretion to the turbine blades had occurred to the engines and along with some sensor damage and they were replaced as were some other critical parts.

Despite many grumbles from airlines that the aviation authorities were being too stringent, they toed the line.  However, Ryannair boss,  Michael O’Leary made the news headlines by announcing this week that he had ordered two of it’s jets (without passengers) through the ash plume in affected airspace with reportedly no ill effects to the aircraft.     I hasten to add that the aircraft only few through low ash concentrations to make the point that the authorities were being too cautious and he could back up his claims with good data.  Was he lucky or was he foolhardy?  Hmmm.

The disruption from this latest eruption from Grimsvotn volcano is proving to be less disruptive because a) the authorities are taking a more pragmatic view based on recent research and b) the ash less angular and of larger particle size so that it will fall to the ground much quicker.  Whatever the facts are in this case,  it is a tribute to the aviation industry that aircraft are well engineered to achieve the highest safety standards for passenger safety.

NASA Mars Rover Spirit

Again in the news this week, is the news that NASA have abandoned attempts to re-establish contact with their Mars Rover, Spirit after it got stuck in soft sand and last communicated some 14 months ago.  Spirit was launched in January 2004 at the same time as it’s sister craft Opportunity which is still trundling around on the Meridiani Plains on Mars and still sending back valuable data.  This is remarkable given  that both rovers had an expected lifespan of 3  months.

Opportunity is however, feeling its age with an ‘arthritic’ robot arm and problems with some of its instruments.  However, it is a testament to the good design and engineering that both Mars rovers have functioned so long in such a harsh environment.

Instances of long-lasting engineering abound.  The one I particularly like is about a mono drainage pump that was only discovered walled up under an Australian department store when the basement got flooded with sewage.  On checking the reference number with the manufacturer, they discovered that the pump had been installed over 40 years previously and had been working unseen and forgotten since that time.  Tough or what?

Category Categories: Editor's View, In the news

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