Volcanic Ash
ICAO’s international airways volcano watch (IAVW) provides operational procedures for the dissemination of information on volcanic eruptions and associated volcanic ash clouds in areas which could affect routes used by international flights, together with necessary pre-eruption arrangements. The IAVW comprises principally State volcano observatories, volcanic ash advisory centres, world area forecast centres, State meteorological watch offices and area control centres/flight information centres, international NOTAM offices, and international and regional OPMET data banks. The IAVW facilitates communication and collaboration between all concerned stakeholders. ICAO’s International Airways Volcano Watch Operations Group (
click here to go to the website) provides advice and guidance on the operation and development of the IAVW, with assistance from, inter-alia, States, IATA, IFALPA, IUGG (covering WOVO) and WMO.
Collaborative Arrangement for the Prevention and Management of Public Health Events in Civil Aviation (CAPSCA)
The ICAO Collaborative Arrangement for the Prevention and Management of Public Health Events in Civil Aviation (CAPSCA) exists to prevent and manage the spread of communicable diseases that cause, or have the potential to cause, a public health emergency of international concern. A multi-sector initiative, it facilitates communication and collaboration between all stakeholders, particularly the public health and aviation sectors, in order to develop and test public health emergency preparedness plans in aviation. It assists States to implement the relevant ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices and to comply with the World Health Organization International Health Regulations (2005). Founded on the need to address hazards and risks associated with communicable diseases that affect aviation, the work is also fundamental to managing other public health emergencies of relevance to aviation, such as those from a nuclear power plant accident. For more information see the
CAPSCA web site.
