The ability to establish a collaborative environment within ATM and to move to Trajectory Based Operations depends on the sharing, between all operational stakeholders, of a similar picture of an environment in which flights operate. It requires a wide range of meteorological information to be shared and made available simultaneously to all ATM actors with minimum delay.

This implementation objective is addressing the Volcanic Ash Mass Concentration Service. All volcanic ash advisory information and the supplementary ash concentration information shall be available as a service(s) in compliance with the EUROCONTROL SWIM specifications. The service shall be implemented focusing on provision of volcanic ash concentration information. However, other related information concerning an operationally significant volcanic ash event, will also be considered when implemented as a SWIM service. Volcanic ash SWIM services will be provided by the designated VAAC(s) and available to be accessed by all relevant stakeholders in Europe, including military. Ideally, all stakeholders that use current VA advisory and VA concentration products, will implement the same using the new SWIM service. Volcanic ash service must support exchange of volcanic ash information in IWXXM format, when applicable.

Airspace Users are not mandated, but it is recommended that Airspace Users will be able to access and consume the volcanic ash SWIM information services published by the VAACs. This may require cooperation from any entities that provide flight planning and monitoring functions and that the Airspace Users system uses the volcanic ash information Service.

System requirements

The service(s) will allow for the processing and potential visualisation of safety critical information related to real-time volcanic activity within European airspace and forecasts of anticipated movement and concentration of ash in the atmosphere that is relevant to aviation.
VAACs shall implement service(s) supporting Volcanic Ash Mass Concentration information exchange in case of volcanic eruption and supporting activities provided in EUR/NAT VACP.

NOTE: For a full description of the services as well as of the associated system requirements, see the Family 5, in the SESAR Deployment Programme edition 2022, Approved by the European Commission.

NOTE FOR MILITARY AUTHORITIES: It is the responsibility of each military authority to review this Objective IN ITS ENTIRETY and address each of the SLoAs that the military authority considers RELEVANT for itself. This has to be done on top and above of the review of "MIL" SLoAs which identify actions EXCLUSIVE to military authorities.

Edition

2022

Stakeholders

Air Navigation Service Provider / Network Manager

Type

CP1

Scope

ECAC+

Status

Active