U bevindt zich op: Home › News › Press releases and news items

Improved procedure for air traffic in volcanic ash areas

News item | 22-05-2010

The Minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management and the Minister of Defence have decided on an improved procedure and more specific agreements about how to fly in areas affected by volcanic ash in the air. With these agreements, the Netherlands is taking a further logical step in the issue of dealing with the ash cloud.

The Minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management and the Minister of Defence have decided on an improved procedure and more specific agreements about how to fly in areas affected by volcanic ash in the air. With these agreements, the Netherlands is taking a further logical step in the issue of dealing with the ash cloud.

Over the past months, more knowledge has been gathered so that now, under clear and strict conditions, an expansion of the possibilities for flying has been agreed, without compromising safety. This is in perfect keeping with the line of action argued by the Netherlands earlier.

The improved procedure makes it possible to deal with concentrations of ash in a more tailored fashion. It allows captains to better respond to the prevailing situation. It will be up to the captains to decide whether to fly into or avoid areas with a concentration of ash, as is also the case for bad weather (like storms).

In consultation with the European airport authorities, air traffic control services and airline companies (FABEC, EASA, EAE, IVW, MLA and KLM and its partners) a new procedure has been developed for flying in areas with a concentration of ash. The following zones apply for these areas:

• white zones in which no concentration of ash at all has been observed and the standard procedures apply;
• red zones in which air traffic is allowed for all users of the airspace under certain conditions;
• grey zones in which air traffic is allowed under strict conditions for airline companies and users of military airspace that have shown that they meet these strict conditions;
  black zones in which no air traffic is allowed. 

Aircraft will remain forbidden to fly in areas with high concentrations of ash (the so-called black zones). Captains must avoid these areas. Only if airline companies meet strict safety requirements that are harmonised across Europe, will they be allowed to fly in so-called grey areas. For example, airline companies must submit declarations (for instance, from the aircraft engine manufacturer) stating that their fleets are equipped for flying in grey areas and they must perform a safety assessment.

If an airline company or user of military airspace fails to meet the requirements mentioned above, flying in grey areas must be avoided. The Inspectorate for Transport, Public Works and Water Management (IVW) and the Military Aviation Authority (MLA) will supervise this and check the related procedures. Captains are at all times responsible for flying safely, including in areas with concentrations of ash.

The procedure meets the stringent safety requirements set at the European level and within the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) for operating aircraft. The procedure is in line with the recommendations that the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) made yesterday.

More information:
Aeronautical Information Circular
27-05-2010 | Pdf-document, 378 kB