What has changed for aviation in dealing with volcanic ash since 2010?
There has been significant progress since last year on the volcanic ash and aviation front, not just at European level but also globally by an ICAO task force.
EUROCONTROL is an active participant in this ICAO task force, the work of which is organised into the following areas:
- Improved forecasting – predicting where the ash will spread;
- Detecting and observing the ash – determining where the ash is, how high and at what concentration;
- Determining the ash thresholds that are hazardous for aircraft operations – in relation to both the airframe and the engine;
- Revising the operational response and improving the communication channels.
On 13 and 14 April, a major ICAO volcanic ash crisis exercise will take place to simulate the impact of an ash cloud from another Icelandic volcano, Grimsvötn. It will involve a large number of airlines, air navigation service providers and national regulators, as well as EUROCONTROL, the European Commission and EASA.
Overall European approach in dealing with volcanic ash
While each individual state remains responsible for deciding whether or not to impose restrictions on flights in its airspace, there has been a move towards a more harmonised approach – one which recognises that decisions to perform flights in airborne contamination (such as ash or sand), should be made by airlines, based on the conclusions of their safety risk assessment.
It is expected that this approach would significantly reduce the number of flights that would have to be cancelled in the event of another ash crisis.
Operational response in dealing with volcanic ash
At the request of the European Union Transport Ministers, the European Commission and EUROCONTROL established the European Aviation Crisis Coordination Cell (EACCC) in May 2010. This cell, which will fall within the activities of the new Network Manager, is responsible for coordinating the response to any crisis affecting European Aviation, such as an ash cloud.
The Crisis Coordination Cell will utilise existing communication tools such as EUROCONTROL’s successful web-based Network Operations Portal. A new tool, EVITA, has also been developed to help airspace users evaluate the effect that an ash cloud will have on their operations.
Developing regulation for dealing with volcanic ash
EASA, which proposes to the European Union the regulatory changes required, organised several consultations with aviation industry and subject matter experts in 2010/2011. The results of these led the Agency to the commitment to pursue its associated rulemaking activities.
Three rulemaking consultations and proposals are planned during the course of 2011:
- Operational Risk Assessment: the availability of reliable and accurate data and information is considered as a critical element in the safety risk assessments to be performed by airlines wishing to operate safely in airspace with possible ash contamination.
- Definition and standardisation of airworthiness data provided by engine manufacturers that is required as input into operational risk assessments.
- Certification Standards: to establish the future needs and content of volcanic ash certification standards.
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