IATA General Positions
       Operational Issues
  • Airspace should not be closed when 
   contaminated by volcanic ash.
  • The decision to operate in areas affected 
   by contaminated volcanic ash should be 
   left to the airlines.
     IATA General Positions 
      Administrative Issues
  • Develop and implement ICAO Region 
   Contingency ATM Plans
  • IATA requires development of a 
   progressive global standard in harmony 
   with ICAO Annex’s but recognizes this 
   may involve interim steps to allow for the 
   implementation of individual regional 
   technology or other capability advances
      Observed Ash - Reporting
   • VAAC Procedure for en route hazard 
    reporting
    –Use one Lower threshold at conceptual visible 
     ash of 2 mg/m3
   • Met Office in METAR 
    –For inclusion in a METAR, use a lower 
     threshold at conceptual visible ash of 2 
     mg/m3; (exclude any reference to residual 
     ash)
      VAAC Procedures
  • An agreed set of VAAC procedures should 
   be drafted which will ensure consistency 
   and performance measurements and 
   support new standards for inclusion in 
   Annex 3
  • Metrics will be created for compliance of 
   the above mentioned standard.
                       VAAC Forecast Output
                            Concentration Charts
    •   The longer term goal is the production of accurate concentration charts 
        with demonstrated accuracies acceptable to the industry.
    •   In the meantime - immediately, label the concentration charts posted on 
        the VAAC websites as “Experimental” until such time the evidence can 
        validate their accuracy.
    •   Change current concentration levels to two levels, 2 mg/m3 & 4 mg/m3
    •   Until such time a VAAC can demonstrate that it is capable of producing 
        concentration charts to the accuracy level, or better, of the London / 
        Toulouse VAACs, then other VAACs should not post concentration level 
        charts on their website.  
    •   Until best practice performance measurements are available, London / 
        Toulouse to present their current benchmark level of accuracy.