SAIB Published With Guidelines, But Does Not Recommend Flight Into Visible Ash

The FAA this week published an SAIB (Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin) addressing concerns about the operation of aircraft with turbine engines into areas where volcanic ash is present. The SAIB is specifically directed toward operators that operate in Europe or operate in and out of Europe, while the Icelandic volcano, Mount Eyjafjallajokull, is still active.

After Mount Eyjafjallajokull ended almost 200 years of dormancy with an eruption on March 20, EUROCONTROL shut down airspace throughout various airports in Europe as a result of the drifting volcanic ash cloud from the eruption On April 14. Since that initial shutdown, the UK CAA has led a coordinated effort that included the FAA. The effort identified an acceptable level of dissipating ash concentration which has subsequently allowed EUROCONTROL to allow flights to resume in most regions.

Volcanic ash can pose a significant threat to aviation safety. During the 1980s, a number of flights into volcanic ash clouds occurred that resulted in the simultaneous shutdown of all engines. Volcanic ash can present short-term as well as long-term operational hazards to turbine engines. While the shortterm affects of erosion and power loss are well documented, the long-term effects of repeated exposures are not well understood.

The SAIB provides information and recommends that operators follow all new and existing Maintenance and Operational Instructions from the respective aircraft and engine manufacturers (Type Certificate Holders) including any recommended post-flight checks on aircraft that might have flown through airspace contaminated with volcanic ash. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is issuing a Safety Information Bulletin on operations in and around volcanic ash.

Before flying from the United States to Europe or within Europe, aircraft owners and operators should review the following recommendations:

• Although the FAA does not recommend engine operation or flight into a visible volcanic ash cloud, we do recommend that you obtain definitive information on operational limitations around ash clouds, if any, from each of the European National Authority of the State(s), of which you plan flight operations.
• Follow all aircraft and engine manufacturer’s operating and maintenance instructions pertaining to operations in airspace where volcanic ash may be near or present.
• Report any inadvertent encounter with volcanic ash or relevant findings, including abnormal engine behavior, to the respective type certificate holders of the aircraft and engines.

FMI: www.faa.gov