Copyright © 2010 The Boeing Company
All Rights Reserved.
Icelandic EyjafjallajÖkull Volcanic
Ash Conference Paper
September 15-16, 2010
“A jet aircraft manufacturer’s perspective
of volcanic ash”
Copyright © 2010 The Boeing Company All Rights Reserved.
Douglas J. Kihm
Technical Fellow
Certification & ETOPS
Figure 1: Notable Volcanic Eruptions
1980 - Mt. St. Helens, United States
1991 - Mt. Pinatubo, Philippines
1989 - Mt. Redoubt, United States
1982 - Galunggung volcano, Indonesia
Copyright © 2010 The Boeing Company All Rights Reserved.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki
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Figure 2: 9 Worldwide Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers
(VAAC)
 ICAO and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) define volcano monitoring
procedures
 9 Worldwide Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers (VAAC) track volcanic plumes
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:VAAC_Coverage.jpg
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3
Figure 3: Example of Advisory Information from
Anchorage VAAC
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Source: Anchorage VAAC
4
Figure 4: Example of Graphical Advisory Information from
Anchorage VAAC
Source: Anchorage VAAC
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Figure 5: ICAO Handbook Document 9766
 ICAO Disseminates Global Aviation Procedures for Dealing with Volcanic Eruptions
Handbook on the International
Airways Volcano watch (IAVW)
(Document 9766-AN968)
Available at ICAO website:
www.icao.int
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Figure 6: Alaska Volcano Observatory Weekly Bulletin
 Alaska Volcano Observatory Provides Key Information for Aviation on Alaska’s
Volcanoes
Source: Anchorage VAAC
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Figure 7: Volcanic Ash, Reported & Significant Inflight
Events
 VAACs Have Played an Important Role in Diminishing Significant Inflight Volcanic
Ash Encounters
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Figure 8: Volcanic Ash Conditional Inspections
 European Operators Have Not Reported any Damages Due Eyjafjallajökull Event
Volcanic Ash - Customer Feedback
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Received responses from 22 operators representing
approximately 1000 aircraft that were operated inside Europe
during the Eyjafjallajökull event
All reports stated that no damage or sign of ash encounters
existed
One operator reported a smell of sulfur in the flight deck and
“yellow” ice crystals on the wipers. Upon inspections per the
AMM no ash, or damage was detected.
APU Inlet
observe for ash build up
and / or abrasions only if
APU operated where ash
was present
Ozone converters
(if installed)
Inspect for internal build up
only if engines have history
of ash contamination
Outflow Valve(s)
Leading edges of all exterior
surfaces and components
Observe for ash build up and / or
abrasions
General observations for unusual
abrasions
Air-conditioning packs
Flight Deck Windows (all)
Observe for ash build up
-Ram Air Inlets / Ducting
-Face Of Heat Exchangers
-Coalescer bags (if installed) and only if bleed system is
suspect for contamination
General observations for abrasions
Radome & Forward
Fuselage
General observations
for abrasions
Light Lenses (all)
Observe for abrasions
Pitot & TAT Probes
AOA sensors
General observations for
abrasions and free AOA
sensor motion
Barrier Air Filters (all)
Main Equipment
Centers
Inspect for ash build up
within components only if
engines have history of ash
contamination
Observe for excessive ash build up
- Equip Cooling
- Recirc
General observations for
noticeable ash build up
Generic Airplane
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Bleed Systems (all)
Airframe & Systems areas of
observations for operations in vicinity
of volcanic ash (AMM Chapter 05)
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Figure 9: Discernable Volcanic Ash Clouds
Boeing position is to avoid discernable ash**
– Basis for successful operations world-wide
– Operational & maintenance guidance provided if an encounter occurs
Source: USGA website: http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2004/3084/
** Discernable to flight crew, PIREPS, satellite imagery, ground observers, etc., augmented by
model predictions as required
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Figure 10: Mt Redoubt – March 2009 SIGMET Advisory
Based on All Available Information
 Satellite imaging
 Atmospheric modeling
 PIREPS
 SIGMET advisory only
 Ground Observations
Source: Anchorage VAAC
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Figure 11: Flight Crew Operation Manual on Volcanic Ash
 Airplane Manufacturers Provide Training and Instructions for Detecting and Exiting
a Volcanic Ash Encounter
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Figure 12: Ring of Fire
 Pacific Region Regulatory Authorities, Operators and Pilots have Extensive
Experience Working Together to Safely and Effectively Avoid Volcanic Ash Encounters
 Extensive experience in dealing with volcanic ash throughout the world
Mt Redoubt, 2009
Ring of Fire
Mt Sakurajima, 2010
Source: USGA website: http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Glossary/PlateTectonics/Maps/map_plate_tectonics_world.html
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Figure 13: Alaska Interagency Operating Plan for Volcanic
Ash
 U.S. Government Inter-agency Plan Coordinates Activities to Facilitate Safe and
Efficient Aviation Operations during Volcanic Ash Events
Source: USGA website: http://www.ofcm.gov/p35-nvaopa/regional_plans/AK%20IA%20plan_2008.pdf
Copyright © 2010 The Boeing Company All Rights Reserved.
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Figure 14: U.S. Air Traffic Disruptions due to Feb 2010
Snow Storm
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation
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Figure 15: ICAO’s European and North Atlantic Volcanic
Ash Contingency Plan Proposal
 ICAO’s European and North Atlantic (EUR/NAT) Office has Enhanced Procedures
Ready for the Next European Volcanic Event
 Validity and use of “Areas of Low/Medium/High Concentration” absolute values
needs to be further evaluated
Volcanic Ash Contingency Plan
EUR and NAT Regions
(EUR Doc 019)
(NAT Doc 006, Part II)
Available at ICAO website:
www.icao.int
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Figure 16: Volcanic Ash Clouds are not consistent
Each volcanic eruption has unique
physical and chemical composition
Source: USGA website: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/ash/properties.html
Copyright © 2010 The Boeing Company All Rights Reserved.
Ash becomes finer with distance
from the volcano
Source: USGA website: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/ash/properties.html
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Figure 17: Eyjafjallajökull Eruption April 2010
 Ash Concentration Values from Forecasting Models are a Strong Function of the Input
Values (e.g., Total Amount, Composition, and Particle Size of Ash being Ejected from
Volcano)
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eyjafjallajokull_volcano_plume_2010_04_18.JPG September 8, 2010
Copyright © 2010 The Boeing Company All Rights Reserved.
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Figure 18: UK CAA MET Office Ash Concentration
Forecast for FL000 to FL2000, May 18, 2010
 EUR/NAT Absolute Values for “Areas of High Concentration” may not correlate to
areas of discernable ash for next Volcanic Ash Event
Eyjafjallajökull Eruption April 2010
Source: © British Crown Copyright 2010, The Met Office
Copyright © 2010 The Boeing Company All Rights Reserved.
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Figure 19: Composition of volcanic ash constituents from
historic eruptions
 An Aircraft and Engine Ash Concentration Standards may not provide any additional
safety or operational benefits over successful approaches used elsewhere in the
World
 Each volcanic eruption has unique physical and chemical composition
Source: USGA website: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/ash/properties.html
 Aircraft and engine ash concentration standards unlikely in near term
– Given the unique composition of each volcanic ash event and the inability to accurately predict
ash concentration
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Figure 20: ICAO International Volcanic Ash Task Force
Inaugural Meeting July 27-30, 2010
 Boeing is supporting Volcanic Ash Task Forces
 ICAO International Volcanic Ash Task Force (IVATF)
 Inaugural meeting July 27-30
 Participation from FAA, U.S. Geological Survey, NOAA, NASA, EASA, EC, UK
CAA, JCAB, IFALPA, IATA, ICCAIA, et al.
 ICAO European and North Atlantic Volcanic Ash Task Force (EUR/NAT VATF)
 UK CAA Airworthiness International Volcanic Ash Teleconferences
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Figure 21: Volcanic Ash Detector Technology
Copyright 2009 by Nicarnica AS and/or its suppliers. All rights reserved.
 Boeing is following the development of aircraft-mounted ash detection systems
 Boeing needs to better understand their capabilities and operational characteristics
 Boeing needs to assess the maturity of the technology, compatibility with existing
airplane systems, and overall benefit
Copyright © 2010 The Boeing Company All Rights Reserved.
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Boeing supports efforts by ICAO and industry to accumulate and review the world’s
best practices for addressing airspace control during a volcanic eruption
Boeing does not consider controlling airspace in the presence of volcanic ash
based solely on an ash dispersion model is pragmatic approach
Operators should be provided advisory information based on the best available
data to make their operational decisions
Thank You for Your Time
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