2nd INT’L. SYMPOSIUM ON VOLCANIC ASH & AVIATION SAFETY

21-24 June 2004Alexandria, Virginia USA

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

It happened – we’re here!

Truly International• Argentina• Australia• Belgium• Canada• Chile• Costa Rica• Ecuador• France• Guatemala• Honduras• Iceland• Italy• Japan• Mexico• Nicaragua• New Zealand• Papua New Guinea• Russia• Switzerland• United Kingdom• United States (incl. CNMI)

SUCCEEDED in our overall goal of meeting to exchange scientific and operational information, with the goal of identifying ways to improve mitigation of the ash hazard to aviation.

Created an unparalleled opportunity for needed networking.

The many parts of “the strange animal” (i.e., the Intl Airways Volcano Watch)

Partnerships in Mitigation:• Gov’t scientists• Academic scientists• Operational meteorologists• Product developers• Regulators/ATC• Pilots, Dispatch• ICAO, WMO

Partnerships in Mitigation

• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) – developing a robust structure that works internationally:

This is really hard work, but it is being done.

Partnerships in Mitigation

• Air Traffic Control, Dispatchers, Pilots

Strong opinions expressed about real problems.

Real stories of volcanic ash as a continuing issue (keep it up!)

Partnerships in Mitigation

• Meteorological Watch Offices, Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres

Every VAAC represented and good input from MWOs. Strong but friendly discussion.

Great input from other players (e.g., US Air Force Weather Agency)

Partnerships in Mitigation

• Volcano observatories – including umbrella organisations International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior, and World Organization of Volcano Observatories:– Great exchange of information – both

organisationally and for individual observatories / events.

– Still a need to monitor more volcanoes, Still a need to monitor more volcanoes, especially in areas with sparse ground especially in areas with sparse ground populations. Progress being made in tailoring populations. Progress being made in tailoring eruption reports to needs of aviation industry.eruption reports to needs of aviation industry.

Partnerships in Mitigation

• Researchers:– Lots of great talks on relevant subjects and

extremely strong poster session, very focussed on the subject at hand (needed a week to digest them all!).

– Strong effort underway to improve satellite Strong effort underway to improve satellite techniques for more reliable detection and techniques for more reliable detection and dispersion models for better cloud forecastsdispersion models for better cloud forecasts..

Some ‘Lowlights’

• Not enough time! Not enough question time in talks. Could the first day’s events have been compressed? Could the conference have been extended a day?

• Could have even more regional players, and more airlines.

• PERCEPTIONS – THE INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS VOLCANO WATCH IS CONFUSING, TRAINING COULD BE IMPROVED, THERE SEEMS TO BE LOTS OF COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS.

• Regional working groups need more time.

Most Basic Needed ActionsMost Basic Needed Actions

Sustained vigilanceSustained vigilance to to iimprove generally mprove generally successful, multi-pronged mitigation successful, multi-pronged mitigation strategy & keep it going into the future. strategy & keep it going into the future. Avoid complacency. Continue to build Avoid complacency. Continue to build awareness of the hazard.awareness of the hazard.

Regional workshopsRegional workshops to provide training on to provide training on this issue and improve implementation of this issue and improve implementation of the IAVW. Especially refine communication the IAVW. Especially refine communication protocols through table-top exercises, multi-protocols through table-top exercises, multi-agency operational plans, etc.agency operational plans, etc.

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