On Friday, EasyJet PLC released a planned trial of aircraft radar to detect volcanic ash clouds. The airline is asking other carriers to join the research to build up a real-time map of the danger across Europe.

EasyJet said the devices are the first of their kind and are designed to be set on the aircraft’s tail fin and detect ash clouds within 60 miles. The new product could potentially prevent a repeat of the shutdown of European airspace in April caused by the eruption of an Icelandic volcano.

The developing and testing of the technology with aircraft manufacturer Airbus is costing the airline $1.46 million. EasyJet hopes to have the device in a dozen of its planes by the end of the year.

Source: msnbc