2/3/12 INTERNATIONAL VOLCANIC ASH TASK FORCE (IVATF) SECOND MEETING Montréal, 11 to 15 July 2011 List of Recommendations The second meeting of the International Volcanic Ash Task Force (IVATF/2), held in ICAO Headquarters in Montréal, Canada from 11 to 15 July 2011, formulated the following recommendations: Recommendation 2/ /1 That, the International Airways Volcano Watch Operations Group perform a full assessment of the different ground-based techniques using available data sets from different volcanic eruptions and identify the means to efficiently encourage the use of existing capabilities by Volcano Observatoriess and Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres. Recommendation 2/22 That, That, the International Airways Volcano Watch Operations Group collaborate with national satellite agencies and research groups, to develop guidance and training material regarding the operational use of quantitative satellite-derived volcanic ash and gas products. Recommendation 2/ /3 That, the International Airways Volcano Watch Operations Group finalize the recommendations as presented at Appendix 2A to this report concerning airborne measurements of volcanic ash, in view of inclusion in the ICAO Handbook of the International Airways Volcano Watch (Doc 9766). Recommendation 2/ /4 That, the International Airways Volcano Watch Operations Group (IAVWOPSG) be invited to coordinate with the World Organization of Volcano Observatories (WOVO) on: a) the issue of increasing the use by volcano observatories of the aviation colour code and Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation (VONA); and (5 pages) IVATF2 List of Recommendations.docx
- 2 - b) the production of a list of volcanoes that threaten aviation and are unmonitored or inadequately monitored for the risks they pose. Recommendation 2/5 That, the International Airways Volcano Watch Operations Group : a) assemble a database of measurements and observations of thicknesses of ash clouds from various eruptions that are obtained from all possible sources (lidar, radar, pilot reports, airborne sampling, etc.) for the purpose of better understanding the three-dimensional geometry of clouds, improving estimates of ash concentrations derived from two-dimensional (mass loading) satellite data, and improving dispersion-model output; b) assess detection thresholds of various space-based sensors, including comparison of results from different retrieval algorithms applied to the same data for a variety of background conditions (e.g. different atmospheric water-vapour loadings). Surface measurements, airborne measurements, and space-borne lidar measurements, when available, should be used to help characterize the sensitivity of the satellite retrieval algorithms; c) further conduct research on automatic algorithms to calculate cloud properties such as mass loading and height, as tools for VAACs in an operational environment; d) validate VAAC-defined ash clouds against satellite and other data to help establish guidelines or standards for defining visible ash. Validation would involve retrospective comparisons (case studies) of the edges of observed ash clouds as defined in previous VAAC advisories with the quantitative properties of the specific corresponding satellite data used to determine those edges; and e) analyze a variety of past encounters of aircraft with ash clouds by combining dispersion model output with eruption-source information, satellite data, and other observations in order to associate ash observations and model results with affects on aircraft. Recommendation 2/6 That the International Airways Volcano Watch Operations Group (IAVWOPSG) be urged to more clearly specify common best practices procedures for preparing advisory products, with the goal to harmonize standard operating procedures among the VAACs to mitigate inconsistency for operators and regulators. Recommendation 2/7 That, the International Airways Volcano Watch Operations Group (IAVWOPSG) be invited to consider the inclusion of preliminary guidance information on volcanic materials for engine testing, as presented at Appendix 2B to this report in the ICAO Manual on Volcanic Ash, Radioactive Material and Toxic Chemical Clouds (Doc 9691). Recommendation 2/8 That, the International Airways Volcano Watch Operations Group
- 3 - continue their efforts to improve eruption detection and measurement capability, improve knowledge and use of eruption source parameters (ESP), characterize uncertainty, improve the global ESP database, and develop probability density functions for ESP at individual volcanoes, with special attention to the most active ones. Recommendation 2/9 That, the International Airways Volcano Watch Operations Group (IAVWOPSG) be invited to coordinate with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to develop procedures on how to share information (such as radar reports, satellite imagery and ground-based measurements) from its Member States with volcano observatories, in an effort to improve collaborative decision making. Recommendation 2/10 That, the International Airways Volcano Watch Operations Group (IAVWOPSG) be invited to consider the findings concerning uncertainty in ash dispersion model forecasts, as presented at Appendix 2C to this report, in the development of operational advisory and warning products related to volcanic ash. Recommendation 2/11 That, the International Airways Volcano Watch Operations Group continue to work towards the improvements in dispersion modelling as identified at the October 2010 workshop on ash dispersal forecasting and aviation. Recommendation 2/12 That, the International Airways Volcano Watch Operations Group explore the development of near-real-time ensemble capabilities and prototype probabilistic products. Recommendation 2/13 That, once task TF-AIR01 is complete, the appropriate ICAO group to amend the ICAO Volcanic Ash Contingency Plan for the EUR and NAT Regions (EUR Doc 019/NAT Doc 006, Part II, December 2010 edition) accordingly based on the findings of task TF-AIR01. Recommendation 2/14 That, the appropriate ICAO group finalize the proposed guidance on The Management of Flight Operations with Known or Forecast Volcanic Cloud Contamination as contained at Appendix 3B to this report for inclusion in an appropriate ICAO publication. Recommendation 2/15 That, the appropriate ICAO group(s) finalize the amendment proposals to the Manual on Volcanic Ash, Radioactive Material and Toxic Chemical Clouds (ICAO Doc 9691), Procedures for Air Navigation Services Air Traffic Management (PANS- ATM, ICAO Doc 4444) and Volcanic Ash Contingency Plan for the EUR and NAT Regions (EUR Doc 019/NAT Doc 006, Part II, December 2010 edition) presented at Appendix 3A to this report for processing. Recommendation 2/16 That, the appropriate ICAO group finalize and incorporate the proposed additional guidance material on General Advice for Aircraft Maintenance Inspection when Operating in Airspace with a Low Contamination of Volcanic Ash presented at Appendix 3D to this report into the Manual on Volcanic Ash, Radioactive Material and Toxic Chemical Clouds (ICAO Doc 9691)
- 4 - Recommendation 2/17 That, airport operations be considered for inclusion in the guidance material for The Management of Flight Operations with Known or Forecast Volcanic Cloud Contamination as part of the flight operations safety risk assessment. Recommendation 2/18 That, the appropriate ICAO group improve aerodrome and air traffic management procedures by extension of written procedures. Recommendation 2/19 That, the appropriate ICAO group incorporate the volcanic ash communication process for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) expert advice as presented at Appendix 3E to this report into an appropriate ICAO publication(s). Recommendation 2/20 That, the draft air traffic management (ATM) volcanic ash contingency plan template as presented at Appendix 4A to this report be accepted as a first draft, with the understanding that further work would be required on matters such as concentration levels, the concept of danger areas and response phases. Recommendation 2/21 That, appropriate ICAO groups, such as the Aeronautical Information Service to Aeronautical Information Management Study Group (AIS-AIM SG), the Operational Data Link Panel (OPLINKP) or the Operations Panel (OPSP), working on advanced technologies for dissemination of information, be provided with operational requirements from an IVATF perspective to help them develop appropriate systems; and that ICAO develops a migration plan to these advance technologies. Recommendation 2/22 That, the International Airways Volcano Watch Operations Group (IAVWOPSG) and other ICAO groups, as necessary, review the detailed results of the investigation into flight planning information dissemination, as presented at Appendix 4B to this report. Recommendation 2/23 That, detailed operational requirements for information on volcanic contaminants, such as altitude bands, be provided by IATA and IFALPA. Recommendation 2/24 That, the International Airways Volcano Watch Coordination Group (IAVW CG) provides clarification with regards to what volcanic activities need to be reported by pilots (for example pre-eruption volcanic activities). Recommendation 2/25 That, the Air Traffic Management Sub-Group (ATM SG) in coordination with the International Airways Volcano Watch Coordination Group (IAVW CG) examine ways to improve the quantity and quality of information on volcanic activities, including AIREP. Recommendation 2/26 That, the International Airways Volcano Watch Coordination Group (IAVW CG), in coordination with the Air Traffic Management Sub-Group (ATM SG) and the Airworthiness Sub-Group (AIR SG), work on: a) the development of a universal Volcano Activity Report (VAR) form and accompanying briefing material; b) a method to ensure that post-flight maintenance findings are appended to the VARs; and
- 5 - c) developing means to ensure that VAR forms are available in electronic form; i.e. as part of templates within the data link (ACARS, FANS) system or in electronic flight bags (EFB). Recommendation 2/27 That, the International Airways Volcano Watch Operations Group (IAVWOPSG) evaluate the five options for the depiction of complex volcanic ash clouds in graphical SIGMET, as presented at Appendix 5A to this report, in view of determining which, if any, may be suitable for global applicability. Recommendation 2/28 That, the International Airways Volcano Watch Operations Group (IAVWOPSG) consider revising the Handbook on the International Airways Volcano Watch (Doc 9766), taking into account the material presented at Appendix 5B to this report (and a further update to be developed concerning channels of communication), and consider the implications on other ICAO guidance. Recommendation 2/29 That, the International Airways Volcano Watch Operations Group (IAVWOPSG) consider whether Annex 3, paragraph 3.6, should be amended to read: Contracting States with active or potentially active volcanoes shall arrange that selected State volcano observatories, as designated by regional air navigation agreement, shall monitor these volcanoes and when observing significant pre-eruption volcanic activity [ ] Note. The IAVWOPSG may wish to consider the ramifications of this amendment, if any, in the context of the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP), and consider what supplementary guidance may be required to assist States in implementing these arrangements. Recommendation 2/30 That, the International Airways Volcano Watch Operations Group (IAVWOPSG) consider the possibility of undertaking a Special Implementation Project to ensure the effective implementation of International Airways Volcano Watch (IAVW) procedures in ICAO States. END