EU admits making errors regarding closure of airspace

[Propwash]

Yep, in the future do it the American way: put the responsability with the airlines.

That's I'm advertising/lobbying for

The Aviation Industry (Pilot In Command) with exception of Air Kamikazie, is perfectly capable of making their own go or no-go decission.

Less EU or individual member state BS and bureaucracy, more responsibilities for the Operator and/or Pilot In Command.

I'm wondering if a EU president with all the charisma of a damp rag, the appearance of a low-grade bank clerk and coming from a non-country, is capable of realising this.

[piratehunter]

Sorry guys...but the decision to close the airspace had nothing to do with the EU. It is the individual countries that decide, based on the warnings received and following the ICAO guidelines.

On the contrary, the EU has reacted to the situation by encouraging Eurocontrol and the governments to take a more differentiated approach. If it were NOT for the European Commission intervention, large parts of Europe's skies would still be unnecessarily closed.

[Propwash]

Sorry guys...but the decision to close the airspace had nothing to do with the EU. It is the individual countries that decide, based on the warnings received and following the ICAO guidelines.

Partly correct

ICAO ONLY recommends (VA Areas) not to issue IFR Clearances.
Some individual countries also closed their Aispace for 'low Level' VFR traffic :thumbdown:

BTW recommendation doesn't mean mandatory!

[SmilingBoy]

Good article (in German):

http://www.pilotundflugzeug.de/artikel/ ... die_Folgen

It points out that the ICAO plans always refer to "ash clouds" but the VAAC forecast was for "contaminated areas". However, the ICAO contingency plan was then implemented as if a "contaminated area" is the same as an "ash cloud".

(And some countries like Belgium even closed their airspace for VFR traffic, including gliders without this being an ICAO suggestion in the contingency plan!)

In my view, it is not correct to call something a "cloud" if you can't see it!

[TCAS_climb]

A well-worth-reading article from StrategicRISK magazine about aircraft and engine makers exchanging safety advice, and the "fight" starting in the UK:
http://www.strategicrisk.co.uk/story.as ... ode=384028

“There are probably 100 to 150 airlines in Europe, some large, some small, some tiny and some that are not going to be around in a week or two, that’s for sure."

Then another one on the possible impact of future volcanic eruptions (from a business/regulatory point of view):
http://www.strategicrisk.co.uk/story.as ... ode=384007

[Propwash]

A bit late but €urocontrol and EASA 'finally' woke up.
EUROCONTROL Volcanic Ash Safety Data Collection Function (SKYbrary)

Flight in Airspace with a low contamination of Volcanic Ash (EASA)

[Propwash]

Nice to know

A Diamond aircraft delivers volcanic ash cloud measurement data
Since Saturday, a Diamond HK36 MPP (Multi Purpose Platform), operating at MetAir, the Swiss airborne measurement company, is providing the only specific measurement data from the ash cloud of volcano Eyjafjallajökull.

Full article (Diamond aircraft)

note: Austria use(d) for VA measurement a twin engine Diamond DA42 MPP (Multi-Purpose Platform).

EU, €urocontrol and other countries used? :thumbdown:

[Propwash]

Off Topic

DATE: 23/04/10
SOURCE: Air Transport Intelligence news
ASH CLOUD: Chaos no excuse to bail out weak airlines: Finnair
By David Kaminski-Morrow

Finnair is opposing the payment of compensation to airlines hit by the volcanic ash chaos, arguing that carriers approved to operate in Europe should be strong enough to absorb the impact.

Full article (Flightglobal)

Other nice articles Managing the Risk to the Safety of Aircraft in Flight Caused by Volcanic Ash (SKYbrary) and GA pilots get advice on piston operations in ash (Flightglobal)

[Propwash]

Ungle Sam (FAA) Vs. €ASA, €urocontrol, Mr. Diaper King and colleagues.

Who Determines When Airways Are Safe From Ash?
by Richard Harris
April 23, 2010

In the summer of 2008, three volcanoes in Alaska's Aleutian Islands blew their tops in quick succession. Kasatochi, Okmok and Cleveland all spewed giant ash plumes into the air. It wasn't big news at the time, but one of them created an ash cloud that stretched across North America. Flight disruptions were quite minor.

That's quite a contrast with what Europe just experienced. And the story illustrates differences of both geography and air regulations.

Full article (NPR)

[Propwash]

Virgin's Branson attacks volcano cloud shutdown
by Staff Writers
London (AFP) April 24, 2010
Richard Branson, the boss of airline Virgin Atlantic, Saturday hit out at the decision to ground flights due to volcanic ash from Iceland, saying there had been "no danger at all to flying".

Full article (SpaceDaily)

[Propwash]

Apr 26, 2010

Lack Of Volcanic Ash Data Worries Industry (Aviation Week)