Airborne Soil-Derived Dust Hazards in Aviation

Abstract Airborne mineral dust poses a safety challenge for aviation. Several fatal accidents have happened in dust-laden air due to reduced visibility, strong gusty winds, and wind shear. Dust-induced icing also contributed at least to two fatal accidents. Furthermore, atmospheric dust has long- and short-term effects on aircraft operating conditions due to corrosion and abrasion on the aircraft surfaces and molten ingress deterioration of engine hot section components. The combined impact can increase operating and maintenance costs and increase the overall cost of ownership. While the scientific community has started preparing and providing products based on atmospheric dust modeling and observation, there are still important data and information gaps in the fundamental science. These include (i) insufficient data which could be used to better understand the effects of dust on aircraft as well as on ground systems and operations (e.g., four-dimensional information of dust mineralogy, cost–benefit analysis of the impact of dust on aviation along flight routes), (ii) the identification of airborne dust monitoring and modeling products and services that could enable the flow of relevant information in commercial aviation and in decision-making workflows, and (iii) the underdeveloped, unclear, or absent role of dust hazards in regulations and operational procedures as well as in the training, skill set, and knowledge base of pilots. This review is aimed at both academic and aviation stakeholders and presents the current state-of-the-art knowledge at the intersection of dust hazards, aviation safety, and impacts on flight operations and aircraft maintenance. Significance Statement Several fatal air traffic accidents and incidents have been clearly attributed to the presence of atmospheric dust. Furthermore, dust has long- and short-term effects on aircraft functioning due to corrosive, abrasive, and melting effects on the aircraft skin and engines, which represents a substantial cost of ownership risk for aviation. In the present article, we aim to bridge aviation stakeholders and research communities, synchronizing and facilitating their efforts to address emerging issues related to the intersection of dust hazards, aviation safety, and costs of operations and maintenance. We fill this gap by reviewing and highlighting the impacts of dust on aviation, introducing and discussing the added value of tailored products, and publishing recommendations for both data providers and end users.