As more people travel by air, aircraft engines face problems from dust and sand.
Researchers from the University of Reading found certain conditions and areas where planes get exposed to these elements the most.
The Problem with Dust and Sand
"Dust and sand are dangerous to air traffic because they melt and form glassy deposits on turbine blades and other metal parts of the engine," explains Claire Ryder, a researcher at the University of Reading.
These deposits disrupt airflow and cause overheating, leading to more wear and tear on the engine.
Researchers analyzed 17 years of data from the CALIPSO satellite to see how much sand and dust planes take in around the world, especially near deserts or areas with frequent dust storms.
They found that in some places, planes collect about 10 kg of dust per 1,000 flights, which caused major engine damage.
The study showed that planes get the most dust when they are hovering 1 kilometer above the runway while waiting to land.
At this height, they take in 50 percent of the total dust and sand they encounter during the flight.
High-Risk Airports
The worst-affected airports are near the Sahara desert, in the Middle East, and in northern India, especially during dry and hot periods.
According to a report by the Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, Delhi in India is the top risk area, with planes absorbing an average of 6.6 grams of dust per arrival during summer and 4.4 grams per departure.
Other high-risk locations include:
Niamey, Niger
Dubai, UAE
Beijing, China
Planes in these cities absorb between 4.7 and 2.9 grams of sand or dust per landing.
Suggested Solutions
To reduce the problem, researchers suggest:
Avoiding landings during high dust or sand periods, like sandstorms.
Changing flight times in Delhi and Dubai to nighttime landings, which could reduce dust intake by over 30 percent.
These strategies could help in designing and maintaining future aircraft engines more effectively.
