Mount Etna, on a good non-exploding day, is still a 10,922\u2019 hulk of a hill requiring an MSA for LICC\/Catania airport of 13,300\u2019<\/strong> in the North quadrant.<\/p>\n The volcano also causes an area of magnetic abnormality.<\/strong><\/p>\n LICR\/Calabria\u00a0airport<\/strong> is a smaller, domestic and VFR traffic airport on the SW tip of Italy which is also impacted by ash from Mount Etna when the wind is from a westerly direction.<\/p>\n September 21 2021 eruption impact<\/p><\/div>\n The airspace surrounding LICC and Sicily is broken down as this rather tidy chat from Jeppesen shows. The sectors are centred on Mount Etna and allow ATC to close those which ash drifts into.<\/p>\n The Sectors (thanks Jeppesen)<\/p><\/div>\n The 21 Sep 2021 eruption has initially closed sector A3<\/strong> and is impacting sector A2 BIS and low level traffic into Calabria airport.<\/p>\n The ash cloud often reaches altitudes above FL150 impacting both local traffic, and overflight traffic at lower levels.<\/p>\n Arrivals and Departures to LICC\/Catania avoid overflying Mount Etna entirely – the 13,000\u2019 MSA area is from radial 300\u00b0 to radial 050\u00b0<\/strong> based off the CTF VFR.<\/p>\n However, variable winds in the region mean forecasting the impact of ash clouds is difficult.<\/p>\n The<\/strong> sectors help establish which SIDs\/STARs can be utilised<\/strong> on a given ash day.<\/strong> The full list<\/a> is fairly long, but worth having a look over in advance to ensure you are aware of which arrivals, departures and approaches are being suspended or utilised.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ETNA-21SEP-1024x646.jpg\")
The Airspace<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Screenshot-2021-09-21-at-12.00.33.png\")
Contingency Procedures – Arrivals and Departures<\/h4>\n
Notams<\/h4>\n