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Press release by the Federal Ministry of Transport
18/4/2010 – The Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development (BMVBS) has published the following press release. Ash cloud: Safety takes priority / International regulations are complied with All-clear not yet given The Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development (BMVBS) has decided – in close consultation with DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung and the German Meteorological Service (DWD) – to reduce the number of flights to “zero” in a large part of German airspace due to the ash cloud. Over the past few hours, several airlines have questioned this decision. In response to this, the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development makes the following statement: 1. Safety in air traffic takes priority for all parties concerned. The decision by DFS to ban controlled flights in the airspace of the 16 international airports and the regional airports was taken to ensure the safety of all passengers. This flight ban can only be lifted if it is certain that the volcanic ash no longer poses a danger to air traffic. 2. DFS makes its decisions in compliance with the international regulations. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has set up a worldwide network of nine advisory centres monitoring the movement of ash clouds after volcano eruptions. The centres are operated by designated national meteorological services. Two such centres are located in Europe: one in Toulouse and one in London. The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) in London, which is operated by the British Met Office, is in charge of the current case. According to the ICAO regulations, the VAAC has to send an updated forecast to the national meteorological services every six hours. This is the Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) in Germany, they process the forecasts and issue meteorological warnings (SIGMETS). Pilots use the forecasts to prepare for their flights and air traffic control uses them as a basis for their flight clearances. Given the available information, DFS cannot issue any such clearances until further notice. As a volcano eruption of this dimension happens seldom in Europe, there is no network of measuring stations in Europe that would determine the ash concentration for aviation. The forecasts for the spread of the volcanic ash are based on a computer model that considers numerous factors, such as volcano activity and wind speed. The model calculations are correlated and supplemented by additional information, such as satellite images. At the moment, the German Meteorological Service is working under tremendous pressure to convert its stationary measuring stations to be able to measure the concentration of ash in German airspace. Furthermore, the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) is preparing for measurement flights. All of this information is sent to the VAAC so that a precise and binding forecast of the spread of the ash cloud can be made for everyone involved. The visual flights conducted by some airlines this weekend also provide information about the concentration of ash in the air. This information is, in turn, passed on to the VAAC in London by the German Meteorological Service. However, the information provided by these flights cannot be depended on as the aircraft were only in the air for a short time and are not equipped with the relevant measurement instruments. Even if no damage to these aircraft was evident, it does not in any way indicate that the concentration of ash in German airspace would not endanger air traffic. Due to the exceptional situation in Europe, DFS, DWD and BMVBS have all activated contingency management teams. The BMVBS is coordinating the contingency management teams and is closely consulting with the other European ministries. At present, it is not clear how long the traffic restrictions will be necessary in Germany. The Icelandic volcano is still active. In addition, the weather conditions at the moment are unfavourable, making the transport of the ash cloud to central Europe probable. Therefore, it is to be assumed that disruptions in air traffic will continue. Temporary improvements or deteriorations in the situation cannot be ruled out. Source: Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development (BMVBS) 18/4/2010
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