UPDATE 1-Glass build-up found in NATO F-16 engine-US official
BRUSSELS, April 19 (Reuters) - Glass build-up from last week's volcanic
eruption in Iceland was found in an engine of a NATO F-16 fighter plane,
underscoring dangers to aircraft flying through the ash cloud, a senior U.S.
official said on Monday.
"Allied F-16s were flying and they did find glass build-up," the
official said, but would not provide any information about when the flight took
place. "They found glass in the engine...it was one plane."
"So this is a very, very serious matter that in the not too distant
future will start having real impact on military capabilities ... if the
volcanic ashes ... issue doesn't disappear."
The official did not identify the location or the time of the incident,
or the nationality of the aircraft, except to say that it took place in Europe.
He said the ash cloud had already led to the scaling down of some U.S.
military exercises. "They can fly but it is dangerous," he said.
"I think the airspace is closed for a reason," the official added,
referring to flight bans that have affected much of Europe for the past five
days.
Volcanic ash is abrasive and can strip off aerodynamic surfaces and
paralyse an aircraft engine. It can also damage aircraft electronics and
windshields.
Airline industry group IATA has criticised Europe's response to the ash
cloud and called on Monday for urgent steps to reopen airspace after five days
of closures that have cost airlines $250 million a day.
Dutch airline KLM, which has flown several test flights, said most
European airspace was safe despite the plume of ash, and sent two commercial
freight flights to Asia on Sunday.
The U.S. official said he expected the impact of the ash cloud to be
taken up as part of NATO's agenda.
Officials said the ash cloud had raised doubts about whether a meeting
of the 28 NATO foreign ministers scheduled on Thursday and Friday in Estonia
and due to be attended by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton could take
place.
"She is in the U.S. and has to get here, and it's too late to take a
boat," the U.S. official said.
NATO officials said the flight ban had forced NATO Secretary-General
Anders Fogh Rasmussen to travel by road back to Brussels from Copenhagen at the
weekend, a journey that takes more than 10 hours.
(Reporting by David Brunnstrom, editing by Tim Pearce) Keywords: EUROPE
AIR/F16
(david.brunnstrom@reuters.com ; +32 2 287 6839; Reuters Messaging:
2010-04-19 12:25:10
3N|NEW POL GEN COM|USA GBR ISL SWE|AIR INS|
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