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CATANIA FONTANAROSSA

AIRPORT

Procedures and Recommendations for Flight Operations in the Presence of Volcanic Ash Cloud

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PRELIMINARY REMARKS

In writing the following procedure and recommendations, consideration was given to the peculiarity of “an active volcano eruptive mouth situated within 20 miles of an airport with intense passenger traffic” and of the specific responsibility assigned to the different Authorities in charge of flight operations in Catania. With regard to the above and following the principles, methods and models contained in ICAO documentation on the subject, an organizational structure was identified composed of the different civilian/military bodies involved in ensuring the operational conditions of the airport.

This document was based on the experience gained by ENAC- Flight Operation Service through its activity at airport Direction during past periods of strong volcanic activity.

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ITALY

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THE AREA

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AUTHORITIES & OFFICIAL BODIES INVOLVED

ENAC (Airport Director)

Crisis Unit ( NVO)

Airport Management (Co. S.A.C.)

INGV (National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology)

UMA of Sigonella (Airport Meteorological Office)

Catania Fontanarossa ARO/MET

Catania APP/Radar (Italian Airforce)

ACCs

Air Operators

Aircraft Captains

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OBJECTIVES

The scope of this procedure is to establish tasks and responsibilities of each Body involved in flight operations at Catania Fontanarossa airport, and to make them all, although belonging to different Administrations, operate in a rigidly defined and coordinated manner, applying the rules agreed upon by the National Civil Aviation Authority.

The task of these Bodies is to enforce the limitations and/or instructions necessary to guarantee the safety of flight operations at Catania Fontanarossa airport during volcanic eruptions. This would be made possible by setting up a communications network linking all these bodies, permitting the rapid exchange of information.

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NPMA – Permanent Group for Monitoring and Alarm

The definition establish the institutional tasks and functions of Sigonella Meteorological Office and of the Catania branch of INGV.

They are connected permanently by means of a telephonic and telematic network in order to cooperate in the surveillance and monitoring of volcanic activity interfering with flight operations.

Within NPMA the continuous exchange of information between the two bodies takes place in an alternate way; bulletins, messages and information to third parties are issued by Sigonella UMA.

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CRISIS UNIT

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NVO - Operational Evaluation Group

ENAC Flight Inspector-Operations

ENAC Member of Catania DCA

A CTA Expert of the Italian Air force

An ENAV CTA Expert

A S.A.C. Expert

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NVO - TASKS

The NVO is the technical body within the Crisis Unit

It is informed by NPMA of the alarm regarding volcano activity or the consistency of the eruption and realated ash emission

It evaluate the operational condition or the degree of operational capability of the whole “airport/airspace complex” according to the position of ash cloud in relation to the incoming/departing routes;and to the contamination of the runway taxiways

It completes its independent investigation and evaluation; it then transmits its conclusions and suggestions to the Crisis Unit who take the appropriate measures on that basis

It coordinates all matters with the ATC Centers involved: Catania APP/RADAR, Roma ACC, Brindisi ACC, in a strategic phase for eventual traffic re-routing , and Catania TWR for the tactic management of the ATZ.

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TASKS AND RESPONSABILITY

For each of the Authorities, Official Bodies and Individuals involved, this procedure establishes and delineates tasks and responsibilities:

Airport Management Company – S.A.C - Intervention plan aimed to face, to appease and to

overcome the effects of volcanic ash falling on the airport.

INGV- National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Catania branch

Sigonella Airport Meteorological Office

Catania APP/Radar BSA - Airspace Brigade - ACCs

Air operators

Aircraft captain

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COMUNICATION

NETWORKLINKING

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STAGES OF INTERVENTIONNPMA

Formed by INGV, Catania Branch UMA Sigonella, in co-operation with ARO/MET of Fontanarossa

ALERTSThe airport DirectionThe First Regional Meteorological Center of Milan CMR– MWO• The airport Direction alerts/summons: - The Crisis Unit (NVO) - The airport Management Company - The Airline operators• The First Regional Meteorological Center of Milano CMR - MWO - Activates the co-ordination/contact with the VAAC(Toulose) - Pre-alerts the observation and forecasting units of the Whole Met. S.

ACTUAL VOLCANIC ERUPTION– EMISSION OF ASH CLOUD Observed by: INGV Catania Branch and/or Aircraft in Flight Sigonella UMA Catania Fontanarossa ARO/MET…….. Others

START THE APPLICATION OF THE CONTINGENCY PROCEDURES

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CONTINGENCY OPERATIVE PROCEDURE (1)

Coordinated tasks and Responsibilities of Bodies, Organizations and Individuals Involved. Division of Airspace. Observation capabilities.

Guidelines for evaluating the degree of danger posed by the volcanic ash cloud. Airport  opening hours.

Basic  scheme for the Evaluation of Catania Fontanarossa Operational Capability in the Presence of a Significant Eruption.

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CONTINGENCY OPERATIVE PROCEDURE (2)

Recommendations for the Management of air traffic:

General Consideration;

Reading of winds;

Cloud in the primary area;

Cloud in the secondary area;

First sector (North);

First-second sector (North/East);

First-Fourth sector (North/West).

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Coordinated tasks and Responsibilities of Bodies, Organizations and

Individuals Involved

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AIRSPACE DIVISION

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AIRSPACE DIVISION

A primary area defined by a circumference having a radius of 10 NM with center on CATANIA VOR/DME (CAT VOR/DME 37°27’22” N – 14°58’10” E), containing Catania Fontanarossa airport and its circling areas; ;

a secondary area defined by four circular sectors between 10 and 70 NM with center on CAT VOR identified as follows:

1° sector: from RDL 315 to RDL 045;

2° sector: “ RDL 045 to RDL 135;

3° sector: “ RDL 135 to RDL 225;

4° sector: “ RDL 225 to RDL 315.

 

Catania VOR is positioned 18 NM (35 Km.) south of the volcano.

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AIRPORT OPENING HOURS

From SR to SS + 30’

From SR to SS + 1h 30’

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OBSERVATION CAPABILITIES

The observation capabilities of the meteorological phenomena referred to in this document, are those and only those available at present.

It is possible to improve the quality and increase the quantity of the necessary data through the use of:

Lidar

Radar Doppler

Radar Wind profiler

Geo-Stationary Satellites of new generation (MSG)

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TOPICS

Guidelines for evaluating the degree of danger posed by

the volcanic ash cloud.

Basic  scheme for the Evaluation of Catania Fontanarossa Operational Capability in the Presence of a Significant Eruption.

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TOPICS

Recommendations for the Management of air traffic:

General Consideration;

Reading of winds;

Cloud in the primary area;

Cloud in the secondary area:

First sector (North);

First-second sector (North/East);

First-Fourth sector (North/West).

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STARs

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STARs Contingency

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ILS Contingency

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SIDContingency

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