Volcanic Ash Operations Workshop John Vincent Deputy Director for Strategic Safety European Aviation Safety Agency EASA 20 January 2011 Cologne
Outline Introduction Key activities Yesterday Today Tomorrow Workshop Objectives
Hazards to Aviation
Mt Etna 11 January 2011
2010 News Reports APRIL 2010 Ash from a volcanic eruption in Iceland news peek as all flights were suspended. The cloud triggered the worst airspace restriction in living memory and brought much of Europe to a standstill. Thousands were stranded in a virtual no-fly zone for several days. MAY 2010 The volcanic ash cloud reappeared as new rules allowing planes to fly at higher ash densities were agreed.
During the eruption To ensure safety of flight EASA published two Safety Information Bulletins (SIBs) Develop a new approach Enhanced reporting was introduced High level of safety maintained Recognition that improved coordination needed
The Three Zone Approach (as agreed on 21 May 2010)
If an eruption starts at short notice EASA SIB 2010-17R2 remains valid. It explains the zoning system for predicted ash concentration levels and those recommended maintenance instructions necessary to ensure continued safe flight when flying in low contaminated airspace EASA SIB 2010-17R2 will be updated
Ash Bands H/M/L 10 Danger to Safety Continued Flight and Landing 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0,1 0,01 High g/m 3 Ash Concentration 0,001 Low Medium 0,0001 0,00001 0,000001 No Safety Effect 0,0000001
European Aviation Crisis Coordination Cell 2 nd Meeting on 6 July 2010 3 rd Meeting for 21 October 2010 Cell should deal with any impact on the network Plan for action - Coordination Organise teleconferences to exchange latest information on the developments with the VAACs, ANSPs and aircraft operators
International Air Safety & Climate Change Conference (IASCC) Support the integration of relevant and accurate meteorological information into systems for flight Ground and airborne measurements are at national level; coordination between national institutions and links with VAAC need to be improved Presentations now on website LINK
ICAO International Volcanic Ash Task Force (IVATF) When addressing the threshold issue one must distinguish between 'hazardous' levels of ash concentrations, 'significant' levels that may entail an increased risk of engine damage resulting in additional maintenance costs and levels that may not have any safety or cost implications Multiple workstreams First Meeting in July 2010 - LINK
ICAO IVATF Organisation Mr. P. Lechner (NZ) the IVATF Programme Coordinator. Established 4 sub-groups given below (Project Managers indicated in brackets): a) science (SCI) sub-group (Ms. M. Guffanti (US)); b) international airways volcano watch (IAVW) coordination sub-group (Dr. A. Tupper (AU)); c) air traffic management (ATM) sub-group (Mr. L. Lachance (Can)) and d) airworthiness (AIR) sub-group (Mr. R. van der Boom (EU))
Tasks allocated to the Airworthiness (AIR) sub-group AIR 01 and 02 - Industry AIR 01 Boeing (I). Define unsafe factors for operations in volcanic ash, in particular: a) define environmental threat; b) define expected operations; c) assess airworthiness implications; d) validate or amend the EUR/NAT Regional threshold guidance values; and e) determine the viability of establishing ICAO Standards Milestones: 12 January 2011, 6 April 2011, 1 June 2011
Tasks allocated to the Airworthiness (AIR) sub-group AIR 02 RR (I). Determine airframe, engine and components susceptible to ash/gas contamination to facilitate the SCI sub-group in identifying major ash/gas characteristics that could affect an Aircraft Milestones: 12 January 2011, 6 April 2011, 1 June 2011
Tasks allocated to the Airworthiness (AIR) sub-group AIR 03 and 04 UK CAA (II). Develop airworthiness criteria for States as a component of their decision concerning operations in airspace that is potentially contaminated with VA (II). Develop pre-flight/ dispatch guidance material and specific criteria (airworthiness considerations, type of operation and nature of ash contamination) to assist operators in their decision making process prior to operations in potential ash contaminated areas using risk management principles; Develop criteria for the State of the Operator to authorize operations in potentially ash contaminated areas sufficiently harmonized so as to allow international recognition. Milestones: January 2011, April 2011, June 2011
Tasks allocated to the Airworthiness (AIR) sub-group AIR 05 Boeing (I). Review current ICAO guidance concerning flight crew procedures in the event of an ash encounter (e.g. real- time uploads of data or onboard detectors) Milestones: 12 January 2011, 6 April 2011, 1 June 2011
Tasks allocated to the Airworthiness (AIR) sub-group AIR 06 and 07 EASA II). Review existing guidance material on maintenance and inspection procedures appropriate for flight in ash contaminated areas. Review aerodrome procedures that may have an impact on airworthiness. (III). Study any potential certification implications Milestones: 12 January 2011, 6 April 2011, 1 June 2011
Tasks allocated to the Airworthiness (AIR) sub-group AIR 08 IATA (I). Provide information on the airworthiness effects associated with those flight operational scenarios judged by operators to be most likely to secure useful alleviations from flight restrictions during a future volcanic ash crisis; Establish an OEM crisis response plan which, in time of volcano-related crisis, is capable of responding urgently, and in a coherent and comprehensive manner, to requests for information from operators, ANSPs and regulatory agencies Milestones: 12 January 2011, 6 April 2011, 1 June 2011
The Present Situation Icelandic volcanoes remain quiet; Improvement observed in VAAC model but not yet accurate in predicting the pockets of ash; Ground and airborne measurements are at national level; coordination between national institutions and links with VAAC need to be improved; Good coordination between EC, EUROCONTROL and EASA; ICAO EUR & NAT Regions Volcanic Ash Contingency Plan updated and Draft Guidance Material for the Management of Flight Operations with known or forecast volcanic cloud contaminations under review
Events Q4 2010/Q1 2011 IASCC, Köln 8-9 September 2010 Keilir Aviation Academy Iceland, Conference on Eyjafjallajokul and Aviation 15-16 September 2010 ICAO ASSEMBLY - 37 TH SESSION, MONTRÉAL 28 SEPTEMBER - 8 OCTOBER 2010 FAA public meeting 5 November 2010 EASA NAAs Partnership meeting 25 November 2010, Cologne EUROCONTROL PC November /December 2010 EACCC #04 11 January 2011, Brussels EASA Volcanic Ash Operations Workshop 20 January 2011, Cologne
AIC publications mix Denmark http://www.slv.dk/dokumenter/dsweb/get/document- 10426/AIC%20B%2027%202010.pdf Iceland http://www.caa.is/media/pdf/a_004_2010_.pdf The Netherlands http://english.verkeerenwaterstaat.nl/english/images/aeronautical%2 520Information%2520Circular_tcm195-278649_tcm249-278933.pdf Norway United Kingdom FODCOM ATSIN http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/fod201029.pdf http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/atsin0189.pdf
Danger Areas - D An airspace of defined dimensions within which activities dangerous to the flight of aircraft may exist at specified times Must be a reasonable degree of certainty that there will not have serious consequences for a flight Consistent approach needed in Europe Risk Assessment part of the equation 21/01/2011 EUROCONTROL PC
EASA Approach Support and contribute to on-going activities in the ICAO IVATF Define and standardise within the EU airworthiness data required as input into operational risk assessments Establish the future need and content of engine ash ingestion standards Part of a total system approach that is compatible with changes being introduced into operations and air traffic management 27
Proposal Amendments NPA Specify data to be made available to operational risk assessment ANPA Aims to establish the future need and content of engine ash ingestion standards
Workshop Objectives 1. To review, comment and recommend improvements to draft guidance on safety risk assessment; 2. To share operational knowledge and experience; 3. To inform on progress of EASA Action Plan 4. To update participants on the latest developments and 5. To prepare for the ICAO EUR/NAT volcanic ash exercise VOLCEX 11/01
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