Between 19 April and 3 May 2010 nine flights of the DLR research aircraft Falcon were performed to measure the volcano ash load over Europe due to the Icelandic Eyjafjalla eruption. Comprehensive results of the successful measurements and supplementary observations by DLR and its partners have been summarized in a report which is now available for download. The results are used to derive measures for a better organization of air traffic during volcano eruptions. In future, concentration limits for save aviation will be defined. Then, forecast systems not only have to predict the presence of an ash cloud, but also have to quantify the mass concentrations. This is much more difficult, as modelling experts of other institutions confirm. The necessity for the operation of an emergency aircraft is clearly evident, not only in the case of volcanic ash, but also for other hazards. Heavy damage to the European economy could be avoided as the actual case has shown.
