The 2nd International Conference on Volcanic Ash and Aviation Safety

VOLCANIC ASH IMPACT ON INTERNATIONAL

AIRPORT OF MEXICO CITY (AICM), DUE TO

EMISSIONS OF POPOCATEPETL VOLCANO

HUMBERTO RODRIGUEZ

Washington, D. C. June 21-24, 2004

AICM FEATURES

• ABOUT 831 OPERATIONS TAKE PLACE DAILY

• LAST YEAR ABOUT 21 MILLION PASSENGERS USED THE AICM

• IT IS LOCATED IN THE NE MEXICO CITY AREA AT 35NM NW OF POPOCATEPETL VOLCANO

• ELEVATION: 7316 FT

• GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION: 19° 25’N - 99° 05’W

AICM

VOLCAN POPOCATEPETL, 17-DICIEMBRE-2000

POPO

AICM

35NM

POPOCATEPETL VOLCANO FEATURES

• IT IS LOCATED ABOUT 35NM (64.8KM) SE OF AICM AT 19.0°N 98.6°W

• AN AGE OF 700,000 YEARS

• ELEVATION OF 5,465 m (18,034FT)

• POPOCATEPETL MEANS: “MONTAÑA QUE HUMEA” (SMOKING MOUNTAIN)

• SINCE DECEMBER 1994, IT STARTED A NEW ERUPTIVE PHASE.

WHAT IS SENEAM?• SENEAM MEANS: SERVICIOS A LA NAVEGACION EN EL

ESPACIO AEREO MEXICANO

• SENEAM IS AN AGENCY THAT BELONGS TO THE COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPORTATION MINISTRY (Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes-SCT)

• IT WAS CREATED BY THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT ON OCTOBER 1978

• SENEAM PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:• AERONAUTIC METEOROLOGY

• AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES (ATS)

• COMMUNICATIONS

• FLIGHT INFORMATION

• AIRWAYS

• SENEAM PROVIDES THESE SERVICES TO 59 AIRPORTS IN MEXICO

THE CAPMA OF SENEAM• CAPMA MEANS: CENTRO DE ANALISIS Y PRONOSTICOS

METEOROLOGICOS AERONAUTICOS

• THE MISSION OF THE CAPMA IS: TO PROVIDE PRESENT AND FORECAST METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT OPERATIONS, WHICH TAKE PLACE IN THE MEXICAN AIR SPACE.

• IT OPERATES 24 HRS A DAY, 365 DAYS OF THE YEAR

• ABOUT 50 METEOROLOGISTS WORK IN THE CAPMA OF SENEAM

• IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE NATION WIDE

• THE CAPMA ISSUES 59 TERMINAL FORECAST (TAF) DAILY

• IT HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ISSUE THE VOLCANIC ASH SIGMETS

CIRCULATION

WINTER CIRCULATION

SUMMER CIRCULATION

THE JUNE 30, 1997 CASE

• OCCURRED AT 19:26 HRS LT (0026 UTC JULY 01, 1997).

• THE CREW OF AVIACSA AIRLINE OBSERVED THE ASH CLOUD AT

19:26 HRS LT (0026 UTC JULY 01, 1997), AND NOTIFIED THIS TO ACC MEX

• AT 19:30 HRS. LT (0030UTC) CENAPRED ALERTED CAPMA OF SENEAM

ABOUT A SIGNIFICANT VOLCANIC ASH ERUPTION. • CAPMA ALERTS DGAC AN ISSUES SIGMET 1A AT 0035UTC

• THE WIND OVER MEXICO CITY IN MIDDLE AN UPPER LEVES WAS

FROM SE ACCORDING SOUNDING OF 0000UTC JULY 01, 1997.

• THE AICM WAS CLOSED AT 0220UTC (JULY 01, 1997). IT IS ABOUT 2 HRS. LATE FROM INITIAL EVENT.

• AT 07:13 HRS. LT (1213UTC JULY 01,1997) THE RANWAY 05R WAS OPENNED

• THE AICM WAS CLOSED FOR ABOUT 10 HRS.

ECONOMIC IMPACT AT THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT OF MEXICO CITY DUE TO POPOCATEPETL VOLCANIC ASH

(JUNE 30, 1997)

CONCEPT AMOUNT LOSSES INPESOS

LOSSES IN USADLS.

WINDSHIELDDAMAGED

22 1,056,000.00 132,000.00

ENGINEDAMAGED

3 20,707,337.00 2,588,417.00

PASSENGERSAFFECTED

19,000

DELAYS 15,957MINUTES

LOSSES DUE TOAFFECTED

PASENGERS

4,709,142.00 588,643.00

COMPANIESLOSSES

10,815,949.00 1,351,994.00

SOURCE: DGAC, SCT, 1997.

ECONOMIC IMPACT AT THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT OF MEXICO CITY DUE TO POPOCATEPETL VOLCANIC ASH

(JUNE 30, 1997)

CONCEPT AMOUNT LOSSES INPESOS

LOSSES IN USADLS.

DELAYSLOSSES

4,126,246.00 515,781.00

CANCELEDFLIGHTS

205

DELAYFLIGHTS

284

DEFLECTEDFLIGHTS

19

AIRPORTCLOSED

10 HRS

SOURCE: DGAC, SCT, 1997.

TOTAL: $ 5,176,835.00 USD

THE JULY 19, 2003 CASE

• THIS EVENT STARTED AT 09:20 HRS. LT. WITH A DENSE VOLCANIC ASH COLUMN WHICH REACHED AN ALTITUDE OF MORE THAN 28,000 FT.

• THE WIND AT 18000 FT WAS BLOWING FROM ESE AT 8-10KT CARRING THE ASH TO MEXICO CITY AREA.

• THE VOLCANIC ASH ARRIVED AICM AT 13:25 HRS LT

•THE VOLCANIC ASH AFFECTED MEXICO CITY, MAINLY ITS SOUTH AREA.

• THE AICM WAS CLOSED FOR ABOUT 6 MINUTES.

SOURCE: CENAPRED, ATS (SENEAM).

POPOCATEPETL VOLCANO

AICM

CENIZA VOLCANICA

LARGE LANDSLIDES

AFFECTED AREA

SPECI MMMX 191825Z 14003KT 5SM VA HZ FU SCT025 SCT200 20/08 A3041 RMK 10299 CENIZA VOLCANICA SBR STN

MMMX 191845Z 03003KT 5SM VA HZ FU SCT025 BKN200 21/09 A3038 RMK 10299 CENIZA VOLCANICA LIGERA SBR STN

MMMX 191945Z 08003KT 5SM VA HZ FU SC025TCU BKN200 22/09 A3036 RMK 20299 VA MVNG SW DSNT CB 2 QUAD

MMMX 192045Z 11016KT 6SM VA VCRA SCT025CB BKN080 BKN200 22/07 A3036 RMK 96393 VA MVNG W PCPN SE

SPECI MMMX 192116Z 13013G23KT 4SM -TSRA BKN025CB BKN080 OVC200 18/11 A3036 RMK 96393 -TSRAB12 BINOVC VA MVNG W -RA VRBL RA

MMMX 192145Z 13015KT 5SM -RA BKN025CB BKN080 OVC200 17/11 A3036 RMK 96399 TSE38 -RA VRBL RA

SPECI MMMX 192203Z 16008KT 6SM VA VC-RA FEW020 SCT025CB BKN080 OVC200 17/12 A3036 RMK 96399 -RAE59 OCNL DROPS OVHD VA MVNG W PCPN 4 QUAD BINOVC SE

MMMX 192245Z 16009KT 7SM VA SCT020 SCT025CB BKN080 OVC200 18/12 A3033 RMK 96399 HZY DSNT PCPN 4 QUAD BINOVC VA MVNG WNW

METAR REPORTS OF MMMX (AICM)

JULY 19, 2003

CENIZA VOLCANICA SOBRE LA CIUDAD DE MEXICO, 19-JULIO-2003

(PERIODICO REFORMA, FOTO: CARLOS MILANES)

CIUDAD DE MEXICO, 19-JULIO-2003(CORTESIA PERIODICO REFORMA)

CIUDAD DE MEXICO, 19 DE JULIO 2003

(CORTESIA PERIODICO REFORMA)

CIUDAD DE MEXICO 19-JUL-2003

FOTO CORTESIA DEL PEERIODICO REFORMA

ECONOMIC IMPACT AT THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT OF MEXICO CITY DUE TO POPOCATEPETL VOLCANIC ASH

(JULY 19, 2003)

CONCEPT AMOUNT LOSSES INPESOS

LOSSES IN USADLS.

PASSENGERSAFFECTED

380

DELAYS 70 MINUTES(AEROMAR)

COMPAÑIESLOSSES

$202,125.00 $19,250.00

CANCELEDFLIGHTS

1

DELAY FLIGHTS 2

DEFLECTEDFLIGHTS

2

AIRPORT CLOSED 6 MINUTES

CAPMA OFSENEAM

VAAC OFWASHINGTON

CENAPREDATS

PILOTS DGACCIVIL

PROTECTION

COMMUNICATION DIAGRAM BETWEEN DIFFERENT OFFICES AND SENEAM FOR THE VOLCANIC ASH INFORMATION

VOLCANIC ASH SIGMETS

• Actually the CAPMA of SENEAM is issuing SIGMETS of volcanic ash of the volcanoes Popocatepetl and Volcan de Fuego de Colima.

• Since 1996, the CAPMA of SENEAM was designated as the unique Center where all volcanic ash information should be concentrated in order to issue SIGMETS as soon as the information is received.

• In Mexico, The Pilots, Controllers (ATC MEX), Weather Observers, and CENAPRED (National Disaster Prevention Center), are the main sources of this kind of information.

• As soon as the CAPMA receives a volcanic ash report, we let the Washington VAAC (Volcanic Ash Advisory Center) knows by giving them details of the event. Also, we ask for information about the extension and movement of the ash cloud.

SUMMARY OF THE PROCEDURES TO ISSUE SIGMETS AT SENEAM

1) As soon as the CAPMA receives a volcanic ash report, the Supervisor issues a SIGMET. This can happen at any time.

2) The supervisor makes a call to Washington to let the VAAC knows about emission of volcanic ash. Also, He asks for more information.

3) The supervisor alerts civil aviation authorities (DGAC), and makes a review of the meteorological conditions.

4) When the volcanic ash statement from the VAAC of Washington is received, the supervisor compares this information with the initial SIGMET. If it is necessary, He will issue another SIGMET.

5) The supervisor issues a bulletin, in plain language, to give more information to users about the volcanic ash event.

6) Each event receives special attention until the SIGMET is canceled.

7) The supervisor double check if the SIGMET and bulletins were properly issued and transmitted. He has to get back copies of the messages he made.

8) All information of each event must be maintained in a clipboard for further studies.

CONCLUSIONS• THE AVIATION SAFETY MUST BE OUR FIRST PRIORITY

• ALERT PILOTS AND AIRLINES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ABOUT VOLCANIC ASH PLUMES TO MITIGATE NEGATIVE IMPACTS LIKE THOSE WE HAVE HAD IN THE AICM..

• THE JUNE 30, 1997 EVENT HAD A HIGH ECONOMIC IMPACT COMPARED WITH THE JULY 19, 2003 CASE.

• THE COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION BETWEEN CAPMA AND VAAC OF WASHINGTON, CENAPRED AND DGAC HAVE BEEN IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY, SINCE THE JUNE 30, 1997 CASE.

• MAINTAIN A PERMANENT VOLCANO WATCH (THE HELP OF PILOTS IS VERY IMPORTANT)

• THE MEXICAN AVIATION WEATHER SERVICE NEEDS TO HAVE APPROPRIATE EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES FOR BETTER MONITORING, SUCH AS:

– WIND PROFILER

– DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR (HIGH RESOLUTION)

– APPROPRIATE SOFTWARE TO PROCESS SATELLITE DATA

– INCREASE RADIOSONDE NETWORK DENSITY.

• TRAINING PROGRAMS

THANK YOU