Volcanic ash and flights: the international meeting in Naples

From 12 to 15 October 2026, Naples hosted the international meeting VOLCEX - Volcanic Ash Exercises, organized by ENAC under the aegis of ICAO EUR/NAT. About 100 experts discussed the management of the impact of volcanic ash on civil aviation and the updating of emergency procedures. 

The work concerned the revision of the EUR/NAT plan and the preparation of the VOLCEX26 exercise, created to verify the coordination between authorities, air navigation services, meteorological structures and operators in the event of the presence of volcanic ash in the airspace. 

ENAC will participate in the exercise together with the Air Force and ENAV, with a coordinating role of the national structures involved. Part of the meeting was also held at the INGV - Vesuvius Observatory in Naples. 

The next appointment is scheduled for mid-November, when an eruption of Vesuvius will be simulated with ash dispersion over an area that will include different areas of Europe, the Caucasus and the Middle East. The test will be used to verify alert procedures, operational coordination and measures to limit the impact on air traffic.