VOLCANIC ASH & AVIATION SAFETYVOLCANIC ASH & AVIATION SAFETY

Captain Ed MillerCaptain Ed Miller

Air Line Pilots AssociationAviation Weather Committee

IntroductionIntroduction

““Volcanic Hazards to Aviation - 101”Volcanic Hazards to Aviation - 101” First record of aircraft damage - 1944First record of aircraft damage - 1944

Mt. Vesuvius - Italy erupts:Mt. Vesuvius - Italy erupts:

B-25 bomber squadron destroyed by B-25 bomber squadron destroyed by

volcanic ash while parked on an airfieldvolcanic ash while parked on an airfield Next “wake up call” - 1980Next “wake up call” - 1980

Mt. St. Helens during eruptionMt. St. Helens during eruption

Vertical growth & Lateral Expansion of the ash plumeVertical growth & Lateral Expansion of the ash plume

Pacific Ring of FirePacific Ring of Fire

Ring of Fire Facts:Ring of Fire Facts:

1500 known volcanoes worldwide1500 known volcanoes worldwide Majority are remote or unmonitoredMajority are remote or unmonitored 55 - 60 eruptions per year55 - 60 eruptions per year 8-10 eruptions will reach flight altitude8-10 eruptions will reach flight altitude North Pacific routes move 15,000 pax dailyNorth Pacific routes move 15,000 pax daily Air freight revenue: $10,000,000 per dayAir freight revenue: $10,000,000 per day 100 volcanoes on routes-3 to 5 erupt per yr. 100 volcanoes on routes-3 to 5 erupt per yr.

Ash contaminationAsh contamination

Wet ash on DC-10 Subic Bay,PIWet ash on DC-10 Subic Bay,PI

SYNOPSIS OF KLM-867 INCIDENTSYNOPSIS OF KLM-867 INCIDENT All 4 engines failed within 59 secondsAll 4 engines failed within 59 seconds False cargo compartment fire warning indication False cargo compartment fire warning indication

required special attentionrequired special attention All normal airspeed indications failedAll normal airspeed indications failed Avionics compartments overheatedAvionics compartments overheated Engines eventually re-started but delivered Engines eventually re-started but delivered

reduced performancereduced performance Aircraft eventually landed safelyAircraft eventually landed safely Total aircraft damage $80 million dollarsTotal aircraft damage $80 million dollars

SATELLITE MONITORING IS VITALSATELLITE MONITORING IS VITAL

More than 1300 volcanoes are un-monitored by More than 1300 volcanoes are un-monitored by volcanologists or seismic instrumentsvolcanologists or seismic instruments

Active volcanoes threaten international air routes around Active volcanoes threaten international air routes around the globethe globe

Geostationary Satellites properly positioned can monitor Geostationary Satellites properly positioned can monitor most of the affected areasmost of the affected areas

Satellite monitors can provide timely warnings around Satellite monitors can provide timely warnings around the clockthe clock

Monitoring systems can be paid tennants on any type of Monitoring systems can be paid tennants on any type of geostationary satellitegeostationary satellite

SATELLITE MONITORING IS VITALSATELLITE MONITORING IS VITAL

Current NOAA GOES satellites are monitorsCurrent NOAA GOES satellites are monitors Next three NOAA GOES satellites will not Next three NOAA GOES satellites will not

monitor because of mission changesmonitor because of mission changes An estimated $10 million additional budget dollars An estimated $10 million additional budget dollars

per vehicle could have saved the capabilityper vehicle could have saved the capability Over $200 million in aircraft damages are logged Over $200 million in aircraft damages are logged

for the last 15 years [$80 million for KLM-867]for the last 15 years [$80 million for KLM-867] Timely Volcanic Ash activity reports are crucialTimely Volcanic Ash activity reports are crucial

Wet ash on DC-10 Subic Bay,PIWet ash on DC-10 Subic Bay,PI