Eyjafjallajokull volcano and aviation conference in Iceland has been announced

The Keilir Aviation Academy has announced an international conference on how the Eyjafjallajokull volcanic eruption in Iceland affected aviation, of which resulted in global flight disruptions. The conference, to be held at Keflavik International Airport, will be “to discuss the lessons learned and how technology, rules, regulations and aviation training must be improved,” as stated by Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, President of Iceland and Patron of the Conference.

The ‘Atlantic Conference on Eyjafjallajokull and Aviation’, which will be held at Keflavik International Airport in Iceland on the 15th and 16th September 2010, is set to address the concerns and questions of the air transportation industry. There will be eight fundamental themes, covering topics such as, What happened at Eyjafjallajokull? Why was Europe’s airspace closed? What procedures were followed? What has been learned? What are the effects of volcanic ash on airplanes and can they be reduced? What steps are to be taken, and by whom, to minimize the threats that volcanic ash poses to aviation?

Invited speakers will come from the civil aviation authorities across Europe, Russia, China, the U.S., the European Commission, OECD, EASA, FAA, Eurocontrol, airlines, airport and air navigation service providers, meteorological offices, as well as personnel from research organisations directly involved in supporting the aviation business. In addition to aviation authority members, scientists will also be discussing the issues of volcanic eruptions and volcanic ash detection and distribution.

It has also been announced that the Patron of the Conference is the President of Iceland, Mr. Olafur Ragnar Grimsson alongside the Guest of Honour and invited speaker Capt. Eric Moody, The captain who glided his B747 to safety out of volcanic ash over Java on 24 June 1982. The Conference Chairman is Dr. Thorgeir Palsson, Professor at the University of Reykjavik and former Director General of the Icelandic Civil Aviation Administration and ISAVIA.

The participants will have several opportunities for meeting colleagues from all parts of the world during the two days, including a reception by the Minister of Transport and US Embassy and the gala dinner on Wednesday 15th September, hosted by Diamond Aircraft. Furthermore, special bus and flight sightseeing tours to Eyjafjallajokull will be organised on the 14th and 17th September.

The conference is organised in cooperation with Keilir – Atlantic Center of Excellence, the Icelandic Ministry of Transport, the Civil Aviation Administration, ISAVIA, the Meteorological Office, the Institute of Earth Sciences, Icelandair, the Association of European Airlines and the U.S. Embassy in Iceland.

For more details on the conference and to download the latest program visit http://en.keilir.net/keilir/conferences/eyjafjallajokull