Delhi Airport Planes Ingesting Harmful Levels of Dust, Study Reveals

Delhi Airport Planes Ingesting Harmful Levels of Dust, Study Reveals

A new study led by researchers from the University of Reading has revealed alarming levels of dust ingestion by aircraft at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. The study indicates that planes arriving at and departing from the airport are ingesting significant amounts of dust, which accumulates in their engines over time and poses serious damage risks.

Dust Ingestion During Summer

According to the researchers, aircraft engines at Delhi Airport are particularly affected during the summer months, ingesting approximately 10 grams of dust per landing. The findings of this study were published in the journal Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences on July 9, 2024. The study analyzed dust ingestion at ten major international airports in desert regions or areas affected by seasonal dust storms. It was found that aircraft at Delhi Airport ingest an average of 10 kilograms of dust per 1,000 flights, with most dust entering the engines while the planes await landing.

Risks to Modern Jet Engines

Flight experts suggest that while this amount of dust might seem minor for modern jet engine cores, repeated exposure to such levels of dust can be dangerous. This issue is particularly concerning for airlines operating from dusty hub airports, where engines can accumulate approximately 10 kilograms of dust after more than 1,000 landings and takeoffs, potentially leading to severe long-term problems.

Increased Dust Accumulation in Dry and Hot Conditions

To calculate the amount of dust, researchers used atmospheric data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and data from the CALIPSO satellite. The study revealed that the most significant dust accumulation in aircraft engines occurs at airports in North India, the Sahara Desert, and the Middle East during dry and hot conditions when dust storms are prevalent.

Mitigation through Flight Schedule Adjustments

The study suggests that changing flight schedules during dusty conditions could help reduce dust exposure. For instance, rescheduling flights to nighttime for airports like Delhi and Dubai could reduce dust ingestion by over 30%.

Delhi Tops the List

Among the ten major international airports studied, Delhi ranks first in terms of dust accumulation in aircraft engines, followed by Niamey Airport in Niger and Dubai International Airport. During summer, each aircraft engine landing in Delhi ingests an average of 6.6 grams of dust, while the return flight sees an additional 4.4 grams. Niamey recorded 4.7 grams of dust ingestion per flight.

This study underscores the need for measures to mitigate dust ingestion in aircraft engines, which can lead to significant maintenance challenges and safety concerns.

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