The Farnborough air show provided the ideal opportunity for the leaders of the European and US aerospace industries to meet and frame international agreement on standards for next generation air traffic management systems and operation in the vicinity of atmospheric volcanic ash.
Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD) and the Aerospace Industries Association of America (AIA) met to exchange views on how to expand their "close collaboration in a wide variety of areas".
Pier Francesco Guarguaglini, president of ASD and chairman and chief executive of Finmeccanica, says: "Transatlantic co-operation is essential to tackle environmental and technological challenges that are common to the US and the European aerospace industries."
The leaders decided that the global industry must agree an international standard for operations near volcanic ash, and affirmed support for continued research and testing of volcanic ash effects. Until real-time, calibrated ash detection systems are aboard aircraft, however, the manufacturers say they continue to recommend avoidance of visible ash.
- All the latest news, video and images from the 2010 Farnborough air show - New this year, live streaming video of each day's flying display
Source: Flight Daily News
