Dust shrouds Air India aircraft at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, India. Getty Images
Dust shrouds Air India aircraft at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, India. Getty Images
Dust shrouds Air India aircraft at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, India. Getty Images
Dust shrouds Air India aircraft at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, India. Getty Images

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Aviation

Desert dust 'accelerates engine wear' of planes circling to land

Most of the particles are ingested by aircraft as they are preparing for landing

Gillian Duncan
Gillian Duncan

July 08, 2024

  • English
  • Arabic

Planes operating in desert climates ingest up to 10kg of dust per 1,000 flights, contributing to disrupted airflow and overheating, resulting in accelerated engine wear, a study has found.

Most dust is ingested by planes while they are circling to land, according to a new global study, which found the largest amounts were at airports close to the Sahara, the Middle East and northern India.

Levels are higher when planes perform holding patterns, with the greatest quantities consumed at low altitudes of 1km, where peak dust concentrations often occur.

To study the effects, scientists examined 17 years of atmospheric and satellite data to calculate the quantity of sand and dust swallowed by jet engines at 10 major international airports: Phoenix, US; Canary Islands, Spain; Marrakesh, Morocco; Niamey, Niger; Dubai; Delhi, India; Beijing, China; Hong Kong; Bangkok, Thailand and Sydney, Australia.

Map showing dust concentration across the world. Photo: Dr Claire Ryder
Map showing dust concentration across the world. Photo: Dr Claire Ryder

Researchers found summer flights into Delhi topped the list, with an average of 6.6g of dust per arrival in the run up to monsoon season and 4.4g upon departure.

Delhi was followed by Dubai and Niamey, Niger, at 4.3g and 4.7g per arrival respectively, while flights into Beijing consumed 2.9g on average.

Dr Claire Ryder, from the University of Reading and lead author of the study, told The National there was previously a concern among scientists that Sydney and Phoenix were among the worst affected by dust.

“This work shows that really they suffer the occasional large dust storm that probably hits the news but nothing like the regular ingestion that you get in parts of Africa, the Middle East and India, which have really high loads,” she said.

This dust belt, which stretches from west Africa through the Middle East, all the way to the Gobi Desert in China, includes some desert regions, like Dubai, and other locations, such as Beijing, that are not located in desert areas, specifically, but they are frequently affected by the long range transport of dust.

She added: “You get these atmospheric winds that transport dust particles from the desert in certain directions, but it’s dependent on the weather systems and the atmospheric flow.

“For Beijing that is brought by the Gobi desert. For Delhi there are some deserts in north-west India. But Delhi and northern India can also be impacted by Middle Eastern dust.”

Many people will be familiar with the risk of flying through volcanic ash. Sand does not have the same impact. Planes affected by dust are “not going to fall out of the sky”, she said.

“This is really a long-term wear issue,” added Dr Ryder.

“Dust and sand are dangerous to aircraft because dust melts to form glassy deposits on blades or hard mineral crusts inside engines. These crusts disrupt airflow and cause overheating, resulting in accelerated engine wear,” said Dr Ryder.

Although the amount of dust ingested per flight is not huge, she said, it quickly adds up.

“A plane consuming 5g of dust per arrival and departure will eat 10kg of dust over 1,000 flights. Planes will consume more dust when they are at lower altitudes waiting to land, though this depends on the local weather which affect the height of a dust plume in the atmosphere,” Dr Ryder added.

Sand and dust storms hit parts of the Mena region – in pictures

A picture taken from Muharraq Island shows a sandstorm engulfing the skyline of Bahrain's capital Manama. The Middle East's sandstorms are becoming more frequent and intense, a trend associated with overgrazing and deforestation, overuse of river water and more dams. AFP
A picture taken from Muharraq Island shows a sandstorm engulfing the skyline of Bahrain's capital Manama. The Middle East's sandstorms are becoming more frequent and intense, a trend associated with overgrazing and deforestation, overuse of river water and more dams. AFP
Massive dust and sand storms have descended on the Gulf this week, bringing extraordinarily high levels of dust and pollutants, particularly in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Bahrain's capital Manama (pictured) has been similarly affected. AFP
Massive dust and sand storms have descended on the Gulf this week, bringing extraordinarily high levels of dust and pollutants, particularly in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Bahrain's capital Manama (pictured) has been similarly affected. AFP
Children play outside during a sandstorm on Muharraq Island, north of the Bahraini capital Manama. People in the Mena region are being advised to stay indoors, especially babies and at-risk groups, and to avoid physical exercise. AFP
Children play outside during a sandstorm on Muharraq Island, north of the Bahraini capital Manama. People in the Mena region are being advised to stay indoors, especially babies and at-risk groups, and to avoid physical exercise. AFP
Cars on a highway in the Bahrain Financial Harbour area during a dust storm in the capital Manama. People in the Gulf are accustomed to frequent sand and dust storms and have attached the Arabic word “Shamal”, which means northern, to the phenomenon owing to the direction of the winds. AFP
Cars on a highway in the Bahrain Financial Harbour area during a dust storm in the capital Manama. People in the Gulf are accustomed to frequent sand and dust storms and have attached the Arabic word “Shamal”, which means northern, to the phenomenon owing to the direction of the winds. AFP
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is obscured by a haze of sand and dust in Abu Dhabi. Winds have reached 40 kilometres an hour in the capital. Victor Besa / The National
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is obscured by a haze of sand and dust in Abu Dhabi. Winds have reached 40 kilometres an hour in the capital. Victor Besa / The National
The Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre is almost hidden by dust. Visibility was down to a few hundred metres in the city. Victor Besa / The National
The Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre is almost hidden by dust. Visibility was down to a few hundred metres in the city. Victor Besa / The National
Jumeirah Lakes Towers in a hazy Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
Jumeirah Lakes Towers in a hazy Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
Strong winds stir up dust and sand in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
Strong winds stir up dust and sand in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
The Kingdom Centre skyscraper in Riyadh during a dust storm. AFP
The Kingdom Centre skyscraper in Riyadh during a dust storm. AFP
The 302-metre building is almost obscured by dust. AFP
The 302-metre building is almost obscured by dust. AFP
Saudi Arabia's National Centre for Meteorology issued alerts for large parts of the kingdom, including Riyadh and the Eastern Province. AFP
Saudi Arabia's National Centre for Meteorology issued alerts for large parts of the kingdom, including Riyadh and the Eastern Province. AFP
A haze of dust covers Riyadh's skyline. AFP
A haze of dust covers Riyadh's skyline. AFP
Dust storms created hazardous conditions for drivers in Kuwait City, where winds reached 50kph. EPA
Dust storms created hazardous conditions for drivers in Kuwait City, where winds reached 50kph. EPA
A man waits to cross a road in Kuwait City as orange-red dust blows in the air. AFP
A man waits to cross a road in Kuwait City as orange-red dust blows in the air. AFP
Kuwait's Ministry of Interior urged the public to exercise caution as dust severely reduced visibility. AFP
Kuwait's Ministry of Interior urged the public to exercise caution as dust severely reduced visibility. AFP
Schools in Kuwait were closed owing to the weather. AFP
Schools in Kuwait were closed owing to the weather. AFP
Towers in Dubai Marina are hard to see through the dust. Pawan Singh / The National
Towers in Dubai Marina are hard to see through the dust. Pawan Singh / The National
Dubai's Burj Al Arab hotel in the haze. Pawan Singh / The National
Dubai's Burj Al Arab hotel in the haze. Pawan Singh / The National
Beachgoers view a hazy skyline at Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. The conditions appear to be the tail of a storm that covered Iraq. Pawan Singh / The National
Beachgoers view a hazy skyline at Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. The conditions appear to be the tail of a storm that covered Iraq. Pawan Singh / The National
Cars drive on a highway in the Seef district during a dust storm in Bahrain's capital Manama. AFP
Cars drive on a highway in the Seef district during a dust storm in Bahrain's capital Manama. AFP
Cars drive on the main highway during a dust storm in the Bahraini capital Manama. AFP
Cars drive on the main highway during a dust storm in the Bahraini capital Manama. AFP
Haze obscures the dhow harbour in Doha, Qatar, during a heavy dust storm. AFP
Haze obscures the dhow harbour in Doha, Qatar, during a heavy dust storm. AFP
Haze obscures Doha's skyline. AFP
Haze obscures Doha's skyline. AFP
A man covers his face with a scarf in Doha during a heavy dust storm. AFP
A man covers his face with a scarf in Doha during a heavy dust storm. AFP
A sandstorm covers Tehran, Iran. Schools and government offices closed in the Iranian capital and elsewhere in the country. AP Photo
A sandstorm covers Tehran, Iran. Schools and government offices closed in the Iranian capital and elsewhere in the country. AP Photo
Iraqis walk along a street at the Shorja market shrouded in heavy dust in central Baghdad. EPA
Iraqis walk along a street at the Shorja market shrouded in heavy dust in central Baghdad. EPA
People with breathing problems are treated at a hospital during a sandstorm in Baghdad. AP Photo
People with breathing problems are treated at a hospital during a sandstorm in Baghdad. AP Photo
People travel along a street during a sandstorm in Baghdad. AP Photo
People travel along a street during a sandstorm in Baghdad. AP Photo
A patient suffering from breathing problems at a hospital in the city of Nasiriyah in Iraq's southern Dhi Qar province. AFP
A patient suffering from breathing problems at a hospital in the city of Nasiriyah in Iraq's southern Dhi Qar province. AFP
People walk on a street in Baghdad during a sandstorm. AP
People walk on a street in Baghdad during a sandstorm. AP
A man walks along the Euphrates river in Nasiriyah in Iraq's southern Dhi Qar province during a heavy dust storm. AFP
A man walks along the Euphrates river in Nasiriyah in Iraq's southern Dhi Qar province during a heavy dust storm. AFP
The dust has affected visibility at Abu Dhabi's Corniche. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
The dust has affected visibility at Abu Dhabi's Corniche. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Abu Dhabi city is difficult to see through the dust. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Abu Dhabi city is difficult to see through the dust. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
The Marina Mall area in Abu Dhabi is obscured by the dust. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
The Marina Mall area in Abu Dhabi is obscured by the dust. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Adnoc headquarters in the capital amid the dust storm. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Adnoc headquarters in the capital amid the dust storm. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Qasr Al Watan is obscured by a haze of sand and dust in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Qasr Al Watan is obscured by a haze of sand and dust in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Museum of the Future during the dust storm in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
Museum of the Future during the dust storm in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
Burj Khalifa obscured by the dusty and hazy weather in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
Burj Khalifa obscured by the dusty and hazy weather in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
Abras on Dubai creek during the dusty weather. Pawan Singh / The National
Abras on Dubai creek during the dusty weather. Pawan Singh / The National

Climate change could potentially lead to a dustier world, she said.

“Climate models do not currently provide a consensus on whether global warming will mean a dustier world, as dust emissions depend on a lot of factors, such as soil moisture, precipitation, surface wind patterns and vegetation cover,” Dr Ryder said.

“Ongoing research at the University of Reading is working to improve the ability of climate models to predict dust emissions and transport through the atmosphere.”

Planes on the taxiway at Beijing Capital International Airport as a sandstorm blows. Getty Images
Planes on the taxiway at Beijing Capital International Airport as a sandstorm blows. Getty Images

Holding patterns of 10-15 minutes at a 1km altitude can lead to more dust ingestion than during the take-off, climb and taxi phases of a flight, researchers said.

At Delhi airport during summer, holding at a 1km altitude contributes 50 per cent to total dust ingestion, they said. By changing the holding pattern altitude away from the dustiest layers, ingestion could be cut by 41 per cent.

Another option to reduce exposure is to change flight schedules to avoid peak dust times. Moving flights at Delhi and Dubai to night time could reduce engine dust ingestion by more than 30 per cent, researchers said.

If you go

The flights
Emirates (www.emirates.com) and Etihad (www.etihad.com) both fly direct to Bengaluru, with return fares from Dh 1240. From Bengaluru airport, Coorg is a five-hour drive by car.

The hotels
The Tamara (www.thetamara.com) is located inside a working coffee plantation and offers individual villas with sprawling views of the hills (tariff from Dh1,300, including taxes and breakfast).

When to go
Coorg is an all-year destination, with the peak season for travel extending from the cooler months between October and March.

Bert van Marwijk factfile

Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder

Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia

Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands

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New Zealand police began closer scrutiny of social media and online communities after the attacks on two mosques in March, the country's top officer said.

The killing of 51 people in Christchurch and wounding of more than 40 others shocked the world. Brenton Tarrant, a suspected white supremacist, was accused of the killings. His trial is ongoing and he denies the charges.

Mike Bush, commissioner of New Zealand Police, said officers looked closely at how they monitored social media in the wake of the tragedy to see if lessons could be learned.

“We decided that it was fit for purpose but we need to deepen it in terms of community relationships, extending them not only with the traditional community but the virtual one as well," he told The National.

"We want to get ahead of attacks like we suffered in New Zealand so we have to challenge ourselves to be better."

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Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.

Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards

Kareem Shaheen on Canada
Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

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The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

Juventus v Napoli, Sunday, 10.45pm (UAE)

Match on Bein Sports

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Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

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Singapore

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Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8

Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm

Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km

Price: Dh380,000

On sale: now 

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Where to buy

Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com

Record breaker
  • The most total field goals made in NBA history, as well as the most consecutive games scoring 10 or more points
  • The only player in NBA history to reach 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 assists
  • Four-time regular season MVP and four-time NBA Finals MVP
  • Six-time NBA All-Defensive selection. Rookie of the Year in 2004
  • The most All-NBA selections with 21 in a row, including a record 13 first team selections
  • The most consecutive All-Star selections with 21
  • The only player to play alongside his son; Bronny James was chosen by the Lakers in the 2024 NBA draft
The national orchestra
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The drill

Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.

Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”

Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”

Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.” 

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Updated: July 09, 2024, 11:23 AM
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