European safety authorities intend to mandate the supply of manufacturers' data to airlines, to support their safety risk assessments of flights in volcanic ash conditions.
The formal proposal follows a revamp of operational procedures to avoid a repeat of the mass grounding of flights seen across Europe in April 2010, after the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull.
ICAO's volcanic ash task force proposed a new approach under which the operator is accountable for examining the risks to flight operations.
Crucial to this is the development of a safety risk assessment which is acceptable to individual national aviation authorities.
Specific data from manufacturers detailing the susceptibility of aircraft to volcanic cloud effects - and the necessary precautions - are "essential" to this process, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said.
"Experience to date has shown that most manufacturers are supportive of operators and readily provide such information," it added.
Nevertheless, EASA is proposing an obligation for manufacturers to identify any potential problems, including recommendations regarding levels of ash concentration and the time period for which it can be tolerated.
The advisories would centre on the probability of such hazards as engine failure or malfunction, the blockage of pitot and static sensors, windscreen abrasion, loss of communication and fuel contamination.
EASA's proposal - which is open for comment until 23 December - comes as Iceland's meteorological office warned of "heightened earthquake activity" in the neighbouring Katla volcano, notably an "intense swarm" of quakes on 5 October.
"There are presently no measurable signs that an eruption of Katla is imminent," the office said. "However, given the heightened levels of seismicity, the situation might change abruptly."
Meanwhile, Chile's erupting Puyehue volcano started disrupting flight operations in Argentina again last week, closing Buenos Aires's airports.
Source: Flight International
