Europe needs more precise information, say air freight chiefs
Air cargo forwarders are staying cautious as the latest information from the Icelandic Meteorological Office shows the volcanic ash cloud reaching heights of up to 26,000ft.
However, south-westerly winds are driving ash away from UK airspace, which has reopened after yesterday’s ban which saw 1,000 flights cancelled at some airports.
Airline chiefs described yesterday’s action as a “gross over-reaction to a minor risk”.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on European governments and air navigation service providers to urgently develop more precise procedures to identify ash contaminated
air space and allow more flights to take off. “This problem is not going away any time soon. The current system to decide airspace closures is not working.
“Safety is always our number-one priority, but we must make decisions based on facts, not on uncorroborated theoretical models,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA director general and CEO.
“France has been able to safely keep its airspace open by enhancing the VAAC data with operational expertise to more precisely determine safe-fly zones.”
Meanwhile, the UK Civil Aviation Authority today reports a positive outcome from discussions with airlines, regulators, and aircraft and engine manufacturers resulting in new measures to reduce
airspace closures caused by volcanic ash.
Source: Katerina Kerr, IFW News, 18 May 2010