As volcanic ash from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi eruption drifts eastward, flight operations throughout India are operating regularly, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation on Tuesday, with only a little amount of cautious rerouting. The ministry stated that in order to handle the crisis, it is closely collaborating with Air Traffic Control (ATC), the India Meteorological Department (IMD), airlines, and international aviation organizations.
Ash plumes from the eruption impacted certain flight pathways on Monday and spread over portions of Gujarat, Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana on Tuesday, according to the IMD. The ash cloud is moving toward China, according to IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, and it will leave Indian airspace by 7:30 p.m.
The Hayli Gubbi shield volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region erupted on Sunday, creating an ash plume up to 14 kilometers (45,000 feet) high, according to the IMD. According to the report, “high-level winds carried the ash cloud from Ethiopia across the Red Sea to Yemen and Oman and further over the Arabian Sea towards western and northern India.”
Airports received ICAO-standard Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMET) alerts from IMD’s Met Watch Offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, and Kolkata, directing flight crews to steer clear of particular airspace segments and altitudes indicated by Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) bulletins. For ongoing surveillance, the agency used dispersion models, satellite photos, and VAAC advisories.
The IMD stated that flight planning, including any route or fuel modifications, is based on ongoing monitoring of meteorological and ash alerts. It further stated that despite avoiding ash-impacted altitudes, flights over the area would encounter lengthier travel durations or holding patterns.
