15/ 2/13 INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS VOLCANO WATCH OPERATIONS GROUP (IAVWOPSG)) SEVENTH MEETING Bangkok, Thailand, 18 to 22 March 2013 Agenda Item 3: Follow-up of IAVWOPSG/6 conclusions STATUS OF FOLLOW-UP OF SELECT IVATF/4 RECOMMENTATIONS (Presented by the Secretary) SUMMARY Following the dissolution of the International Volcanic Ash Task Force (IVATF/4) on 15 June 2012, this information paper is intended to provide the group with an indication of the status of follow-up off select IVATF/4 recommendations thatt were not directed to the IAVWOPSG for consideration. 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 The fourth meeting of the International Volcanic Ash Task Force (IVATF/4), held 13 to 15 June 2012, Montreal, formulated twenty-four recommendations of which seventeen were directed to the IAVWOPSG for consideration, namely IVATF/4 Recommendations 4/2 to 4/7 inclusive, 4/9 to 4/11 inclusive, and 4/17 to 4/24 inclusive. The IAVWOPSG will recall that the IVATF was dissolved at the close of the IVATF/4 meeting in June 2012. 1.2 In order to expedite the IAVWOPSG s consideration off the IVATF recommendations indicated in 1.1 above, the Secretariat issued IAVWOPSG-Memo/57 (www.icao.int/safety/meteorology/ iavwopsg/ /Memos/57.pdf) on 29 June 2012. The group will consider these recommendations in the context of, in particular, discussionss under agenda items 4, 5 and 6 of the IAVWOPSG/ /7 meeting. 1.3 IVATF/4 This information paper is intended to inform the group on follow-up in respect of select recommendations that were not directed for the consideration of the IAVWOPSG. 2. DISCUSSION 2.1 The appendix paper presents select IVATF/4 recommendations that were not directed for the consideration of the IAVWOPSG. In essence, these recommendations were to be addressed by the ICAO Secretariat, ICAO groups, partner organizations, or required no specific follow-up. (5 pages) IAVWOPSG.7.IP.011.3.docx
- 2-2.2 For the information of the group, the status of follow-up has been appended to these select recommendations in the appendix, correct as at 31 January 2013. 2.3 Comprehensive information pertaining to the four meetings of the IVATF between 2010 and 2012, including working documentation, meeting reports and executive summaries, is available at: www.icao.int/safety/meteorology/ivatf. 3. ACTION BY THE IAVWOPSG 3.1 The IAVWOPSG is invited to note the information in this paper.
Appendix APPENDIX STATUS OF FOLLOW-UP OF SELECT IVATF/4 RECOMMENDATIONS Note. Follow-up indicated correct at 31 January 2013. Recommendation 4/1 That, in the context of ground-based lidar capabilities for volcanic ash detection in support of the International Airways Volcano Watch (IAVW), ICAO be invited to encourage the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to continue its efforts to include volcanic ash in its programme of the Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW), recognizing that the GAW provides a strong framework for improving the use of lidar techniques and networks for the detection and characterization of volcanic ash in the atmosphere. Follow-up: ICAO Meteorology (MET) Section lead. Correspondence in August and October 2012 between Chief, MET Section, and the President of WMO s Commission for Atmospheric Sciences in this regard. Letter from ICAO Secretary General to WMO Secretary General highlighting the importance of this issue issued 28 November 2012. Recommendation 4/8 That, in the ICAO communication to States and International Organizations following IVATF/4 on the accomplishments of the IVATF, attention is drawn to: a) the draft Amendment 76 to Annex 3 Meteorological Service for International Air Navigation pertaining to improvements to volcano observatory arrangements; b) improved guidance in the Handbook on the International Airways Volcano Watch Operational Procedures and Contact List (Doc 9766), the Manual on Volcanic Ash, Radioactive Material and Toxic Chemical Clouds (Doc 9691), and other new or improved guidance such as the manual on Flight Safety and Volcanic Ash Risk Management of Flight Operations with Known or Forecast Volcanic Ash Contamination (Doc 9974); and c) respective responsibilities in the context of a) and b) above. Follow-up: ICAO Meteorology (MET) Section lead. Lead article in the first edition of the 2013 ICAO Journal emphasizing the accomplishments of the IVATF and the associated aspects of improved ICAO provisions and guidance. In addition, letter from ICAO Secretary General to States and International Organizations issued 24 January 2013 drawing attention to these matters and respective roles and responsibilities.
Appendix A-2 Recommendation 4/12 That: a) the Operations Panel (OPSP) be invited to finalize the proposed additional guidance material on general aviation operations and volcanic ash, as given at Appendix D to this report; and b) upon completion of the review by the OPSP, the International Airways Volcano Watch Operations Group (IAVWOPSG) be invited to consider the inclusion of the resultant material in the Manual on Volcanic Ash, Radioactive Material and Toxic Chemical Clouds (Doc 9691). Follow-up: ICAO Flight Operations (OPS) Section lead. Recommendation to be presented to the Air Navigation Commission during the first half of 2013 suggesting that the task to finalize the proposed additional guidance material on general aviation operations and volcanic ash be included in the work programme of the Operations Panel (OPSP). Recommendation 4/13 That an appropriate technical organization be invited to develop a Minimum Operational Performance Specification to sense and display volcanic ash cloud characteristics of concern to aircraft airworthiness to flight crew, with a view to providing tactical guidance to avoid dangerous exposure to volcanic clouds. Note. The results of research aircraft measurements of volcanic ash, as well as remote-sensing and forecasts, should be used as a means to correlate and validate any future operational on-board volcanic ash detection technologies. Follow-up: No organization has expressed an interest to ICAO in advancing this recommendation to date. ICAO Flight Operations (OPS) Section monitoring. Recommendation 4/14 That SAE International be invited to develop standards for aircraft health monitoring technologies and analytical processes that record the accumulative effects of volcanic ash encounters, with a view to maintaining continued airworthiness. Note. The real-time monitoring of effects on aircraft and engines can supplement flight crew awareness of a volcanic ash encounter. Follow-up: SAE has been approached informally however no agreement has been entered into to date. SAE nevertheless appear very receptive to the proposal. ICAO Flight Operations (OPS) Section monitoring.
A-3 IAVWOPSG/7-IP/11 Appendix Recommendation 4/15 That: Follow-up: a) following editorial amendments to be undertaken by the Secretariat, the Air Traffic Management Volcanic Ash Contingency Plan template as contained at the Attachment to IVATF/4-WP/16 should be sent to all the ICAO Planning and Implementation Regional Groups (PIRGs) for their use in preparing volcanic ash contingency plans for their respective region(s); b) the ICAO Air Navigation Bureau, under the lead of the Chief, Air Traffic Management Section, be the custodian of the Air Traffic Management Volcanic Ash Contingency Plan template, supported by the ICAO Planning and Implementation Regional Groups; and c) the ICAO Secretariat review the draft Manual on Collaborative Air Traffic Flow Management and the draft Manual on Flight and Flow Information for a Collaborative Environment to ensure that they sufficiently cover regional contingency planning scenarios. Note. This recommendation replaces IVATF/3 Recommendation 3/9. a) Finalized ATM volcanic ash contingency plan template distributed by Director, Air Navigation Bureau, to all ICAO Regional Directors on 7 August 2012, in view of making it available to States through respective planning and implementation regional groups (PIRGs), supporting the transition to and/or implementation of ATM volcanic ash contingency plans in all ICAO Regions; b) Chief, Air Traffic Management (ATM) Section serving as custodian of the template supported by the PIRGs; and c) A review of draft manuals has been undertaken by the ICAO Air Traffic Management Section (ATM) Section in respect of the inclusion, or not, of matters relating to contingency planning. Given existing ICAO provisions regarding contingency planning in Annex 11 Air Traffic Services, the ATM Section determined that the draft Manual on Collaborative Air Traffic Flow Management would benefit from the inclusion of reference to contingency planning matters. The ATM Section will progress during the first half of 2013. Recommendation 4/16 That States should not declare a danger or restricted area in respect of volcanic ash, except over and in proximity to an erupting volcano. Follow-up: No specific follow-up action required. Nevertheless, inspiration has been drawn from this recommendation in respect of the development of new or improved ICAO provision and guidance, such as a proposed amendment to the Procedures for Air Navigation Services Air Traffic Management (Doc 4444, PANS-ATM), 15.8, and the regional ATM volcanic ash contingency plans. END