What's the use of Test flights IF Insurance will NOT cover ?

UPDATE 1-More Dutch test flights to assess volcanic ash

Sun Apr 18, 2010 2:17am EDT

* Initial test flights in Netherlands, Germany successful

* Flights to test volcanic ash impact on aircraft

(Adds ministry comment, background)

AMSTERDAM, April 18 (Reuters) - The Netherlands said more test flights would take place on Sunday to assess whether there was any danger in its airspace from volcanic ash after an earlier test flight was conducted safely.

Dutch airline KLM said it carried out a test flight on Saturday without any apparent damage. Germany's Lufthansa flew 10 planes in separate tests.

"The KLM test flight in the Netherlands, which took place under controlled conditions, has been safe. Abroad, several test flights have also been safe," the Dutch Transport Ministry said in a statement

"The goal of these test flights is to do measurements in Dutch airspace on the possible consequences of the ash on airplane parts," the ministry.

Volcanic ash spreading from Iceland has led to massive air travel disruptions across Europe in recent days and problems worsened on Saturday as the cloud of ash spread southeast across the continent.

Volcanic ash has an abrasive effect and can strip off vital aerodynamic surfaces and paralyse an aircraft engine, while aircraft avionics and electronics can also be damaged. (Reporting by Gilbert Kreijger; Editing by Matthew Jones)