LFV: ”Decisions regarding airspace restrictions are the result of a joint risk assessment”
19-Apr-2010 The decisions regarding restrictions in Swedish and European airspace due to the ash cloud from the erupting volcano in Iceland are based on the latest meteorological reports as well as decisions taken in agreement within the aviation safety organisation Eurocontrol.
The decisions are thus based on the collective risk assessment for the area in question and are updated four times a day.
LFV challenges the move made earlier today by IATA's Director General and CEO Giovanni Bisignani when he criticised European governments for basing airspace restrictions on theory rather than fact.
Kimmy Bech, Operations Manager at LFV states the following:
"The decision regarding airspace restrictions is definitely based on fact. Together with Eurocontrol decisions are made based on the latest meteorological forecasts as well as the reports received from the Met Office (VAAC, Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre) in London. This is a collective assessment which ensures the highest possible aviation safety. We follow international regulations and the decisions from Eurocontrol's coordination meetings four times a day."
"We sincerely apologise for the fact that large areas of airspace are restricted and empathise greatly with those individuals and parties who have been affected during the flight ban. We are continuously following the spread of the ash cloud and we are opening airspace sectors when possible in accordance with our rules and regulations. Additionally, there are continuous coordination efforts to monitor the decision-making process at the European level," adds Kimmy Bech.