Living in the Neighbourhood of a major eruption

Dr Eamonn McKeeAmbassador of Ireland

Position of Iceland in the North Atlantic

Dublin to Reykjavik:1496.05Km

Oslo to Reykjavik: 1745.89 Km

Newfoundland to Reykjavik: 2469.20 Km

Ash Cloud 15 April

View of the the ash plume from Eyjafjallajökull Volcano over the North Atlantic 17 April 2010. NASA satellite

30

GANDER

REYKJAVIK

SHANWICK

NEW YORKSANTA MARIA

c. 90%of total traffic

c. 5%

c. 5%

VAAC Charts

ppeared necessary to give effect to Chicago Convention (Section 9)

Air Traffic in Europe before and during the crisis source: Eurocontrol

Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres

9 centres globally designated by ICAO

What Europe LearnedOften it takes a crisis to test your procedures. Europe’s

were tested and changed.

European Crisis Coordination Cell established.

Safety cannot be compromised but new technologies , when actually used can help with ensuring safety as well as protecting industry.

Grimsvotn did not create the same panic, although in the end it did not produce the same ash cloud.

Although not comparable it did show that Europe was better prepared and better able to deal with the consequences of an eruption in Iceland.

Grimsvotn – Happening all over again?24 May 2011

Lessons Early activation of Task Force crucial;

Up-to-date information through numerous channels;

Plan for future disruptions.