UNITED UNITED AIRLINESAIRLINES

LEONARD J. SALINASLEONARD J. SALINAS

FLIGHT DISPATCHFLIGHT DISPATCH

21APR201021APR2010

Congressional Hazards Caucus AllianceCongressional Hazards Caucus Alliance

B747-400B747-400

B777B777

B767/B757/A320/A319B767/B757/A320/A319

CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONSCODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONSSec. 121.535Sec. 121.535

Responsibility for operational control: Flag operations.Responsibility for operational control: Flag operations.

(a) Each certificate holder conducting flag operations is responsible for (a) Each certificate holder conducting flag operations is responsible for operational control.operational control.(b) The pilot in command and the aircraft dispatcher are jointly responsible for the (b) The pilot in command and the aircraft dispatcher are jointly responsible for the preflight planning, delay, and dispatch release of a flight in compliance with this preflight planning, delay, and dispatch release of a flight in compliance with this chapter and operations specifications.chapter and operations specifications.(c) The aircraft dispatcher is responsible for--(c) The aircraft dispatcher is responsible for--(1) Monitoring the progress of each flight;(1) Monitoring the progress of each flight;(2) Issuing necessary instructions and information for the safety of the flight; and(2) Issuing necessary instructions and information for the safety of the flight; and(3) Cancelling or redispatching a flight if, in his opinion or the opinion of the pilot (3) Cancelling or redispatching a flight if, in his opinion or the opinion of the pilot in command, the flight cannot operate or continue to operate safely as planned or in command, the flight cannot operate or continue to operate safely as planned or released.released.(d) Each pilot in command of an aircraft is, during flight time, in command of the (d) Each pilot in command of an aircraft is, during flight time, in command of the aircraft and crew and is responsible for the safety of the passengers, aircraft and crew and is responsible for the safety of the passengers, crewmembers, cargo, and airplane.crewmembers, cargo, and airplane.(e) Each pilot in command has full control and authority in the operation of the (e) Each pilot in command has full control and authority in the operation of the aircraft, without limitation, over other crewmembers and their duties during flight aircraft, without limitation, over other crewmembers and their duties during flight time, whether or not he holds valid certificates authorizing him to perform the time, whether or not he holds valid certificates authorizing him to perform the duties of those crewmembers.duties of those crewmembers.

CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONSCODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS

Sec. 121.627Sec. 121.627

Continuing flight in unsafe conditions.Continuing flight in unsafe conditions.

(a) No pilot in command may allow a flight to continue toward any (a) No pilot in command may allow a flight to continue toward any airport to which it has been dispatched or released if, in the airport to which it has been dispatched or released if, in the opinion of the pilot in command or dispatcher (domestic and flag opinion of the pilot in command or dispatcher (domestic and flag operations only), the flight cannot be completed safely; unless, in operations only), the flight cannot be completed safely; unless, in the opinion of the pilot in command, there is no safer procedure. the opinion of the pilot in command, there is no safer procedure. In that event, continuation toward that airport is an emergency In that event, continuation toward that airport is an emergency situation as set forth in Sec. 121.557.situation as set forth in Sec. 121.557.

CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONSCODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS

121.101   Weather reporting facilities.121.101   Weather reporting facilities.

(d) Each certificate holder conducting domestic or flag (d) Each certificate holder conducting domestic or flag operations shall adopt and put into use an approved operations shall adopt and put into use an approved system for obtaining system for obtaining forecasts and reports of adverse forecasts and reports of adverse weather phenomena,weather phenomena, such as clear air turbulence, such as clear air turbulence, thunderstorms, and low altitude wind shear, that may thunderstorms, and low altitude wind shear, that may affect safety of flight on each route to be flown and at affect safety of flight on each route to be flown and at each airport to be used.each airport to be used.

WESTBOUND OPERATION OVER ALASKA WESTBOUND OPERATION OVER ALASKA

Alaska Volcanoes and Western U.S. Alaska Volcanoes and Western U.S.

Cascades volcanoes have Cascades volcanoes have highest individual highest individual aviation threat scoresaviation threat scores because of high because of high passenger loads on conterminous US air passenger loads on conterminous US air routes.routes.

Alaska has highest cumulative aviation threat because of large number of active volcanoes.

WESTBOUND OPERATIONWESTBOUND OPERATION

FLIGHT TRACK FLIGHT TRACK

ASH LOCATION ASH LOCATION

FLIGHT TRACK FLIGHT TRACK

SARYCHEV - AIRLINE IMPACT & COSTSSARYCHEV - AIRLINE IMPACT & COSTS

► Between 12JUN09 and 17JUN09 the eruption Between 12JUN09 and 17JUN09 the eruption and the ash cloud resulted in 65 re-routes, and the ash cloud resulted in 65 re-routes, 6 diversions, 2 turn backs to originating 6 diversions, 2 turn backs to originating departure cities, and 12 fuel stops.departure cities, and 12 fuel stops.

► The additional costs to the air carriers from the The additional costs to the air carriers from the Sarychev eruption and resulting ash cloud Sarychev eruption and resulting ash cloud were estimated at $1.8M.were estimated at $1.8M.

► Russian ATC handled 179 total requests vs. Russian ATC handled 179 total requests vs. normal workload of 20 flights per day.normal workload of 20 flights per day.

REDOUBT - AIRLINE IMPACT & COSTSREDOUBT - AIRLINE IMPACT & COSTS

► Between 15MAR09 and 04APR09 the eruption and the Between 15MAR09 and 04APR09 the eruption and the ash cloud resulted in 60 re-routes, 20 diversions, ash cloud resulted in 60 re-routes, 20 diversions, 10 turn backs to originating departure cities, and 10 turn backs to originating departure cities, and multiple cancellations due to no ops at night.multiple cancellations due to no ops at night.

► The additional costs to the air carriers from the The additional costs to the air carriers from the Redoubt eruption and resulting ash cloud were Redoubt eruption and resulting ash cloud were estimated at approximately one half-million dollars.estimated at approximately one half-million dollars.

DIVERSION SUPPORTDIVERSION SUPPORT

DIVERSION SUPPORTDIVERSION SUPPORT

VOLCANIC ASH ADVISORY CENTERSVOLCANIC ASH ADVISORY CENTERS

IMPACT ICELANDIC ASH CLOUDIMPACT ICELANDIC ASH CLOUD4/14 – 4/18 4/14 – 4/18

►222 US – Europe Cancellations222 US – Europe Cancellations►Customers - US- Europe 18,869Customers - US- Europe 18,869►Customers - Europe to US 25,977Customers - Europe to US 25,977►Rome, Italy operations were re-routed Rome, Italy operations were re-routed

over Northern Africa which required over Northern Africa which required special over-fly permits special over-fly permits

PROBLAMATIC SHORTFALLS PROBLAMATIC SHORTFALLS

► Dispersion model differencesDispersion model differences► Satellite sensor inadequacy, as it relates to the Satellite sensor inadequacy, as it relates to the

detection of specific physical phenomena detection of specific physical phenomena ► Clarity of labeling time-series data, such as Clarity of labeling time-series data, such as

sequential remote-sensing imagerysequential remote-sensing imagery► Direct access to subject matter experts during Direct access to subject matter experts during

events events

AIRLINE OPERATIONS NEEDS AIRLINE OPERATIONS NEEDS

► Global synoptic views of activity that may impact flight Global synoptic views of activity that may impact flight routes routes

► Specific forecasts (predictions) of impending volcanic Specific forecasts (predictions) of impending volcanic activityactivity

► Clear descriptions of ash-dispersion model capabilities Clear descriptions of ash-dispersion model capabilities and remote- sensing detection techniques and remote- sensing detection techniques

► Capitalize on continuous advances in remote satellite Capitalize on continuous advances in remote satellite sensing, aircraft capability, meteorological equipment, sensing, aircraft capability, meteorological equipment, flight planning, communications and Air Traffic flight planning, communications and Air Traffic

ManagementManagement

CARIBBEAN ERUPTIONCARIBBEAN ERUPTION

► Information requirement Information requirement is immediateis immediate

► Rapidly changing Rapidly changing conditions conditions

AIRLINE OPERATIONS NEEDS AIRLINE OPERATIONS NEEDS

► ““5 MIN” Notification5 MIN” Notification

► Initial information has to be issued very quickly, Initial information has to be issued very quickly, and continued communication flow needs to be and continued communication flow needs to be consistent and issued at specific intervals and in consistent and issued at specific intervals and in specific formats to facilitate procedural development specific formats to facilitate procedural development in the aviation community. in the aviation community.

► These issues provide a strong argument in the United These issues provide a strong argument in the United States for continued collaboration among Air Carriers, States for continued collaboration among Air Carriers, Volcano Observatories, and Volcanic Ash Advisory Volcano Observatories, and Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers. Centers.

AIRLINE OPERATTIONS NEEDSAIRLINE OPERATTIONS NEEDS

► LONG TERM STRATEGIC THREAT PLANNINGLONG TERM STRATEGIC THREAT PLANNING

► PRE-TACTICAL ERUPTION PLANNING – Identify Significant ThreatsPRE-TACTICAL ERUPTION PLANNING – Identify Significant Threats

► ERUPTION – Rapid Notification ERUPTION – Rapid Notification

► TACTICAL MANAGEMENT – VAAC, MWO, ATC, Aircraft, AOC’s TACTICAL MANAGEMENT – VAAC, MWO, ATC, Aircraft, AOC’s

► POST ERUPTION – Ash Dispersion / So2 DispersionPOST ERUPTION – Ash Dispersion / So2 Dispersion

► EVENT CLOSURE –Identify when volcano and/or ash no longer threatEVENT CLOSURE –Identify when volcano and/or ash no longer threat

FLIGHTFLIGHT

COMPLETIONCOMPLETION

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

leonard.salinas@united.comleonard.salinas@united.com

THANK YOU!