Australia's volcanic ash detector
I’m not sure that the media here in Australia grasp the enormity of Europe’s aviation shutdown. After 2001 terrorist attacks US airspace was closed for only 3 days but in the aftermath Delta’s CEO said that no airline could survive without a massive Federal bailout. It took Congress two days to appropriate a $16 billion rescue. See http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/12/09/eveningnews/main532311.shtml.
That’s what Europe will need if the eruption continues much longer.
Sadly nobody was interested when Australian scientists developed a volcanic ash detector ten years ago. See http://www.csiro.au/files/mediaRelease/mr2001/Prvolcanoash.htm