• Home /
• BCM News and Events /
• BCM news /
• EU attempts to reduce future threats of volcanic ash disruption

EU attempts to reduce future threats of volcanic ash disruption

14 April 2011

Measures have been implemented by the European Union (EU) aimed at reducing future threats of disruption from volcanic ash.

The strategies are a response to the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull eruption in Iceland last spring and a simulation has been held on April 13th and 14th this year in order to assess the contingency plans.

Measures were agreed by the Transport Council of Ministers on May 4th 2010 and have been tested by the exercise, in which Eurocontrol, the European Commission and the European Aviation Safety Agency participated.

The European Commission will report to Transport Ministers in June 2011 on the outcomes of the International Civil Aviation Organization simulation and continuity planning efforts.

Vice-President of the body, Siim Kallas, remarked: "The intensive efforts over the last twelve months have paid off in terms of improving crisis planning and systems."

Flights across Europe were grounded in April 2010 after the volcano erupted, emitting clouds of ash and ice into the atmosphere and posing a potential risk to planes.