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Photo courtesy of the Institute of Earth
Sciences
Nordic Volcanological Center. |
ALPA has been closely monitoring the situation in
Europe with regard to the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull. We have also been in close
communication with engine and airframe
manufacturers, as well as regulators in North
America and Europe. The common goal is to ensure
that acceptable safety margins are maintained as the
airspace is reopened.European Commission Vice
President Siim Kallas announced that European Union
Transport Ministers have agreed on a progressive and
coordinated opening of European airspace based on
the expert plan developed at Eurocontrol over the
weekend and agreed to by telecommunication this
morning.
The plan sets up three zones:
1. Full restrictions—no fly—due to ash;
2. Area where ash will not impede safety and national authorities allow flights as appropriate; and
3. No restrictions—open areas—not affected by ash.
The zones will be defined in the next few hours
with flights resuming at 0800 CET
Tuesday, April 20.
When flight operations resume, we urge our crews
to keep several things in mind:
• Although the ash
plume is expected to move south at around 15 knots
and become a non-hazard, another eruption or change
in wind patterns could once again pose a flight
hazard.
• Carefully review your dispatch and flight planning
paperwork, paying particular attention to your route
of flight to ensure you avoid the no-fly zone.
• Make sure you have the most recent ash forecast
information available.
• Be alert for warning signs that you are in close
proximity of ash or gas clouds. For example:
o St. Elmo’s fire or
other static discharges,
o Abnormal engine indications, and/or
o Acrid odors similar to electrical smoke or rotten
eggs.
• In case of an
inadvertent encounter with volcanic ash, crewmembers
should follow company procedures as trained and exit
the cloud immediately.
Remember the pilot in command is the final
authority as to the safe operation of the flight. |
