1. The 2nd International Conference on Volcanic Ash and Aviation Safety
VOLCANIC ASH IMPACT ON INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT OF MEXICO CITY (AICM), DUE TO
EMISSIONS OF POPOCATEPETL VOLCANO
HUMBERTO RODRIGUEZ
Washington, D. C. June 21-24, 2004

2. AICM FEATURES ABOUT 831 OPERATIONS TAKE PLACE DAILY
LAST YEAR ABOUT 21 MILLION PASSENGERS USED THE AICM
IT IS LOCATED IN THE NE MEXICO CITY AREA AT 35NM NW OF POPOCATEPETL VOLCANO
ELEVATION: 7316 FT
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION: 19° 25’N - 99° 05’W

3. AICM

4. VOLCAN POPOCATEPETL, 17-DICIEMBRE-2000

5. 35NM
AICM
POPO

6. POPOCATEPETL VOLCANO FEATURES
IT IS LOCATED ABOUT 35NM (64.8KM) SE OF AICM AT 19.0°N 98.6°W
AN AGE OF 700,000 YEARS
ELEVATION OF 5,465 m (18,034FT)
POPOCATEPETL MEANS: “MONTAÑA QUE HUMEA” (SMOKING MOUNTAIN)
SINCE DECEMBER 1994, IT STARTED A NEW ERUPTIVE PHASE.

8. WHAT IS SENEAM?
SENEAM MEANS: SERVICIOS A LA NAVEGACION EN EL ESPACIO AEREO MEXICANO
SENEAM IS AN AGENCY THAT BELONGS TO THE COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPORTATION MINISTRY (Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes-SCT)
IT WAS CREATED BY THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT ON OCTOBER 1978
SENEAM PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:
AERONAUTIC METEOROLOGY
AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES (ATS)
COMMUNICATIONS
FLIGHT INFORMATION
AIRWAYS
SENEAM PROVIDES THESE SERVICES TO 59 AIRPORTS IN MEXICO

9. THE CAPMA OF SENEAM
CAPMA MEANS: CENTRO DE ANALISIS Y PRONOSTICOS METEOROLOGICOS AERONAUTICOS
THE MISSION OF THE CAPMA IS: TO PROVIDE PRESENT AND FORECAST METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT OPERATIONS, WHICH TAKE PLACE IN THE MEXICAN AIR SPACE.
IT OPERATES 24 HRS A DAY, 365 DAYS OF THE YEAR
ABOUT 50 METEOROLOGISTS WORK IN THE CAPMA OF SENEAM
IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE NATION WIDE
THE CAPMA ISSUES 59 TERMINAL FORECAST (TAF) DAILY
IT HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ISSUE THE VOLCANIC ASH SIGMETS

10. CIRCULATION
WINTER CIRCULATION
SUMMER CIRCULATION

11. THE JUNE 30, 1997 CASE
OCCURRED AT 19:26 HRS LT (0026 UTC JULY 01, 1997).
THE CREW OF AVIACSA AIRLINE OBSERVED THE ASH CLOUD AT
19:26 HRS LT (0026 UTC JULY 01, 1997), AND NOTIFIED THIS TO ACC MEX
AT 19:30 HRS. LT (0030UTC) CENAPRED ALERTED CAPMA OF SENEAM
ABOUT A SIGNIFICANT VOLCANIC ASH ERUPTION.
CAPMA ALERTS DGAC AN ISSUES SIGMET 1A AT 0035UTC
THE WIND OVER MEXICO CITY IN MIDDLE AN UPPER LEVES WAS
FROM SE ACCORDING SOUNDING OF 0000UTC JULY 01, 1997.
THE AICM WAS CLOSED AT 0220UTC (JULY 01, 1997). IT IS ABOUT 2 HRS. LATE FROM INITIAL EVENT.
AT 07:13 HRS. LT (1213UTC JULY 01,1997) THE RANWAY 05R WAS OPENNED
THE AICM WAS CLOSED FOR ABOUT 10 HRS.

12. ECONOMIC IMPACT AT THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT OF MEXICO CITY DUE TO POPOCATEPETL VOLCANIC ASH (JUNE 30, 1997)
SOURCE: DGAC, SCT, 1997.

13. ECONOMIC IMPACT AT THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT OF MEXICO CITY DUE TO POPOCATEPETL VOLCANIC ASH (JUNE 30, 1997)
TOTAL: $ 5,176, USD
SOURCE: DGAC, SCT, 1997.

14. THE JULY 19, 2003 CASE
THIS EVENT STARTED AT 09:20 HRS. LT. WITH A DENSE VOLCANIC ASH COLUMN WHICH REACHED AN ALTITUDE OF MORE THAN 28,000 FT.
THE WIND AT FT WAS BLOWING FROM ESE AT 8-10KT CARRING THE ASH TO MEXICO CITY AREA.
THE VOLCANIC ASH ARRIVED AICM AT 13:25 HRS LT
THE VOLCANIC ASH AFFECTED MEXICO CITY, MAINLY ITS SOUTH AREA.
THE AICM WAS CLOSED FOR ABOUT 6 MINUTES.
SOURCE: CENAPRED, ATS (SENEAM).

15. AICM
POPOCATEPETL VOLCANO
CENIZA VOLCANICA
LARGE LANDSLIDES

16. AFFECTED AREA

19. METAR REPORTS OF MMMX (AICM)
JULY 19, 2003
SPECI MMMX Z 14003KT 5SM VA HZ FU SCT025 SCT200 20/08 A3041 RMK CENIZA VOLCANICA SBR STN
MMMX Z 03003KT 5SM VA HZ FU SCT025 BKN200 21/09 A3038 RMK CENIZA VOLCANICA LIGERA SBR STN
MMMX Z 08003KT 5SM VA HZ FU SC025TCU BKN200 22/09 A3036 RMK VA MVNG SW DSNT CB 2 QUAD
MMMX Z 11016KT 6SM VA VCRA SCT025CB BKN080 BKN200 22/07 A3036 RMK VA MVNG W PCPN SE
SPECI MMMX Z 13013G23KT 4SM -TSRA BKN025CB BKN080 OVC200 18/11 A3036 RMK TSRAB12 BINOVC VA MVNG W -RA VRBL RA
MMMX Z 13015KT 5SM -RA BKN025CB BKN080 OVC200 17/11 A3036 RMK TSE38 -RA VRBL RA
SPECI MMMX Z 16008KT 6SM VA VC-RA FEW020 SCT025CB BKN080 OVC200 17/12 A3036 RMK RAE59 OCNL DROPS OVHD VA MVNG W PCPN 4 QUAD BINOVC SE
MMMX Z 16009KT 7SM VA SCT020 SCT025CB BKN080 OVC200 18/12 A3033 RMK HZY DSNT PCPN 4 QUAD BINOVC VA MVNG WNW

20. (PERIODICO REFORMA, FOTO: CARLOS MILANES)
CENIZA VOLCANICA SOBRE LA CIUDAD DE MEXICO, 19-JULIO-2003
(PERIODICO REFORMA, FOTO: CARLOS MILANES)

21. CIUDAD DE MEXICO, 19-JULIO-2003 (CORTESIA PERIODICO REFORMA)

22. CIUDAD DE MEXICO, 19 DE JULIO 2003 (CORTESIA PERIODICO REFORMA)

23. FOTO CORTESIA DEL PEERIODICO REFORMA
CIUDAD DE MEXICO 19-JUL-2003
FOTO CORTESIA DEL PEERIODICO REFORMA

24. ECONOMIC IMPACT AT THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT OF MEXICO CITY DUE TO POPOCATEPETL VOLCANIC ASH (JULY 19, 2003)

25. CAPMA OF SENEAM VAAC OF WASHINGTON CENAPRED ATS PILOTS DGAC
COMMUNICATION DIAGRAM BETWEEN DIFFERENT OFFICES
AND SENEAM FOR THE VOLCANIC ASH INFORMATION
CAPMA OF
SENEAM
VAAC OF
WASHINGTON
CENAPRED
ATS
CIVIL
PROTECTION
PILOTS
DGAC

26. VOLCANIC ASH SIGMETS
Actually the CAPMA of SENEAM is issuing SIGMETS of volcanic ash of the volcanoes Popocatepetl and Volcan de Fuego de Colima.
Since 1996, the CAPMA of SENEAM was designated as the unique Center where all volcanic ash information should be concentrated in order to issue SIGMETS as soon as the information is received.
In Mexico, The Pilots, Controllers (ATC MEX), Weather Observers, and CENAPRED (National Disaster Prevention Center), are the main sources of this kind of information.
As soon as the CAPMA receives a volcanic ash report, we let the Washington VAAC (Volcanic Ash Advisory Center) knows by giving them details of the event. Also, we ask for information about the extension and movement of the ash cloud.

27. SUMMARY OF THE PROCEDURES TO ISSUE SIGMETS AT SENEAM
1) As soon as the CAPMA receives a volcanic ash report, the Supervisor issues a SIGMET. This can happen at any time.
2) The supervisor makes a call to Washington to let the VAAC knows about emission of volcanic ash. Also, He asks for more information.
3) The supervisor alerts civil aviation authorities (DGAC), and makes a review of the meteorological conditions.
4) When the volcanic ash statement from the VAAC of Washington is received, the supervisor compares this information with the initial SIGMET. If it is necessary, He will issue another SIGMET.
5) The supervisor issues a bulletin, in plain language, to give more information to users about the volcanic ash event.
6) Each event receives special attention until the SIGMET is canceled.
7) The supervisor double check if the SIGMET and bulletins were properly issued and transmitted. He has to get back copies of the messages he made.
8) All information of each event must be maintained in a clipboard for further studies.

28. CONCLUSIONS TRAINING PROGRAMS
THE AVIATION SAFETY MUST BE OUR FIRST PRIORITY
ALERT PILOTS AND AIRLINES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ABOUT VOLCANIC ASH PLUMES TO MITIGATE NEGATIVE IMPACTS LIKE THOSE WE HAVE HAD IN THE AICM..
THE JUNE 30, 1997 EVENT HAD A HIGH ECONOMIC IMPACT COMPARED WITH THE JULY 19, 2003 CASE.
THE COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION BETWEEN CAPMA AND VAAC OF WASHINGTON, CENAPRED AND DGAC HAVE BEEN IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY, SINCE THE JUNE 30, 1997 CASE.
MAINTAIN A PERMANENT VOLCANO WATCH (THE HELP OF PILOTS IS VERY IMPORTANT)
THE MEXICAN AVIATION WEATHER SERVICE NEEDS TO HAVE APPROPRIATE EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES FOR BETTER MONITORING, SUCH AS:
WIND PROFILER
DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR (HIGH RESOLUTION)
APPROPRIATE SOFTWARE TO PROCESS SATELLITE DATA
INCREASE RADIOSONDE NETWORK DENSITY.
TRAINING PROGRAMS

29. THANK YOU