Why did they activate the “Code Red” for planes passing through Hawaii?

According to the United States Geological Survey there is no imminent risk of massive volcanic eruption of the Kilauea, but the expelling Ashes could damage them.

We all remember how the Icelandic volcano of unpronounceable name, the Eyjafjallajökull, sowed air chaos on April 2010. Its eruption threw into the air a huge cloud of ash that forced to cancel thousands of flights throughout Europe and that it was more than a month difficult the transit of people by airway according to these particles were moving through this immense area. Now, the volcano of Hawaii, the Kilauea, is living a similar situation after a huge column of Ashes ascended to the sky making impracticable the safety of the planes that fly there. That is why it has been activated the known as “Code Red”, which despite the name, does not seek to alarm people.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has already warned that it is only an alert announcement for pilots to stay away from the area and not to suffer problems with their engines. The Kilauea volcano has been active since the 3rd of May and the island is suffering rivers of lava, molten rock and different fissures throughout the area that emanate poisonous gases that could become dangerous. But the danger can also be transferred to the skies and it must be taken into account. Since USGS want to show their concern that volcanic activity is lengthened in time, which can be a continuous dense smoke that hinders completely air traffic or limit it for a period, which can not be realized.

It must be remembered that volcanic ashes are a problem for airplanes: they can obstruct the speedometer of an aircraft, make an engine stop or fog the windows with a layer of dust that prevents visibility in flight. Elements of danger that could put the lives of hundreds of people at risk, so they alert the fact to be taken into account. From USGS They study daily the activity of these volcanoes as well as the number of ashes and harmful particles that are in the air. Your measurements will determine in which cases you can or cannot fly. Here you can check the different colors.