Maiden flight with ash samplers

Scientists and engineers from Norut Tromsø and Andøya Rocket Range used newly developed technology to follow the air particles from the ground during the test flight.

Ready for takeoff on the maiden flight with equipment to measure volcanic ash particle concentrations are (back, from left) Preben Hanssen, Andøya Rocket Range, and Rune Storvold, Norut Tromsø, and (front, from left) Kent Gøran Jensen, Andøya Rocket Range, and Kjell-Sture Johansen, Norut Tromsø.

The unmanned aircraft system (UAS) was authorised to fly at an altitude of up to 3000 feet, and implemented a successful 40-minute test flight.

“We have not yet completed analysis of the measurements from Friday’s flight, but we don’t believe there were ash particles in the air during the test flight,” says Senior Research Scientist Rune Storvold from Norut Tromsø.

Measuring ash particle concentrations

The need to measure particles in the air space became extremely relevant after volcanic ash from the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland closed the air space over large parts of Europe in April this year.

Norut scientists, who have used UAS for climatic measurement and civil preparedness since 2005, immediately viewed the measurement of ash particle concentrations as another application for the UAS.

The unmanned aerial system (UAS) is fitted with air particle sampling instruments.

“We ordered air particle sampling instruments from Germany and over the past weeks have developed technology to provide feedback to the team on the ground about ash particle concentrations in the air,” says Storvold.

In recent weeks he has led the preparations for Friday’s test flight in collaboration with the UAS operative company Aranica.

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Relevant in the north

“The drones can be used for environmental surveillance, power line inspection, geophysical surveys and resource mapping, in addition to climate research,” says Norut CEO Ivan C. Burkow, adding: “These tasks are all extremely relevant for the future activity and development in the north.”

Takeoff: The UAS does not need a runway to become airborne.

“We jointly own the operative company Aranica with our partners Andøya Rocket Range and Troms Kraft. The fact that the drones were ready for takeoff, and our scientists we able to quickly develop systems and technology to meet current and future needs, enabled us to start testing this technology in the air just six weeks after the volcanic ash clouds stopped us,” says Burkow.

The volcanic activity on Iceland has now calmed down, but the authorities want to be prepared for similar situations.

The Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority is now in the process of receiving and evaluating different options for a future state of readiness. The authorities are following Norut’s technology and models for the measurement of air particles with interest.

In Greenland too

Parallel with the activity at Andøya, Norut Tromsø now has drones on location in Greenland where it is conducting measurements of soot in the ice sheet. The aim is to study what impact long distance transportation of soot in the atmosphere from industry and forest fires has on the melting of the ice sheet in the interior of Greenland.

Contact persons

Senior Research Scientist Rune Storvold, Norut Tromsø
CEO Ivan C. Burkow, Norut

The drone on its maiden flight with air particle sampling instruments.