1. VOLCANIC ASH & AVIATION SAFETY
Captain Ed Miller
Air Line Pilots Association
Aviation Weather Committee

2. Introduction “Volcanic Hazards to Aviation - 101”
First record of aircraft damage
Mt. Vesuvius - Italy erupts:
B-25 bomber squadron destroyed by
volcanic ash while parked on an airfield
Next “wake up call”

3. Mt. St. Helens during eruption

4. Vertical growth & Lateral Expansion of the ash plume

5. Pacific Ring of Fire

6. Ring of Fire Facts: 1500 known volcanoes worldwide
Majority are remote or unmonitored
eruptions per year
8-10 eruptions will reach flight altitude
North Pacific routes move 15,000 pax daily
Air freight revenue: $10,000,000 per day
100 volcanoes on routes-3 to 5 erupt per yr.

7. Ash contamination

8. Wet ash on DC-10 Subic Bay,PI

9. SYNOPSIS OF KLM-867 INCIDENT
All 4 engines failed within 59 seconds
False cargo compartment fire warning indication required special attention
All normal airspeed indications failed
Avionics compartments overheated
Engines eventually re-started but delivered reduced performance
Aircraft eventually landed safely
Total aircraft damage $80 million dollars

10. SATELLITE MONITORING IS VITAL
More than 1300 volcanoes are un-monitored by volcanologists or seismic instruments
Active volcanoes threaten international air routes around the globe
Geostationary Satellites properly positioned can monitor most of the affected areas
Satellite monitors can provide timely warnings around the clock
Monitoring systems can be paid tennants on any type of geostationary satellite

11. SATELLITE MONITORING IS VITAL
Current NOAA GOES satellites are monitors
Next three NOAA GOES satellites will not monitor because of mission changes
An estimated $10 million additional budget dollars per vehicle could have saved the capability
Over $200 million in aircraft damages are logged for the last 15 years [$80 million for KLM-867]
Timely Volcanic Ash activity reports are crucial

12. Wet ash on DC-10 Subic Bay,PI