An air carrier dispatcher reported that the volcanic ash report on montserrat, which was critically ...

Attributes
ACN	588130
Time
Date	200307
Day	Sun
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zny.artcc
State Reference	NY
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel
ASRS Report	588130
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other non adherence : company policies non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Weather
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

Approximately XA30Z, received volcano advisory stating low level ash from surface to 8000 ft. No factor for en route portion of flight. At XD50Z, received satcom call from flight saying he was being reported due to volcanic ash up to FL500 per ATC. WX service updated company file at XD30Z, stating ash to FL500. However, I did not get this to the flight prior to him calling at XD50Z due to other desk responsibilities. The advisory that WX service updated at XD30Z was issued from washington at XC40Z, but was not received on my screen printer. I did receive the advisory at XA30Z and XH30Z, but not at XC40Z. The captain was wondering why it took me so long to forward the updated ash advisory. I was unable because I didn't have the information available to me until XD30Z. The main issue is I didn't receive the XC40Z ash advisory in a timely manner which would have allowed me to forward it to the flight before ATC did.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR DISPATCHER RPTED THAT THE VOLCANIC ASH RPT ON MONTSERRAT, WHICH WAS CRITICALLY NECESSARY FOR THE SAFETY OF HIS FLT, WAS NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL AFTER THE CAPT HAD PENETRATED THE ASH CLOUD.

Narrative: APPROX XA30Z, RECEIVED VOLCANO ADVISORY STATING LOW LEVEL ASH FROM SURFACE TO 8000 FT. NO FACTOR FOR ENRTE PORTION OF FLT. AT XD50Z, RECEIVED SATCOM CALL FROM FLT SAYING HE WAS BEING RPTED DUE TO VOLCANIC ASH UP TO FL500 PER ATC. WX SVC UPDATED COMPANY FILE AT XD30Z, STATING ASH TO FL500. HOWEVER, I DID NOT GET THIS TO THE FLT PRIOR TO HIM CALLING AT XD50Z DUE TO OTHER DESK RESPONSIBILITIES. THE ADVISORY THAT WX SVC UPDATED AT XD30Z WAS ISSUED FROM WASHINGTON AT XC40Z, BUT WAS NOT RECEIVED ON MY SCREEN PRINTER. I DID RECEIVE THE ADVISORY AT XA30Z AND XH30Z, BUT NOT AT XC40Z. THE CAPT WAS WONDERING WHY IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO FORWARD THE UPDATED ASH ADVISORY. I WAS UNABLE BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE THE INFO AVAILABLE TO ME UNTIL XD30Z. THE MAIN ISSUE IS I DIDN'T RECEIVE THE XC40Z ASH ADVISORY IN A TIMELY MANNER WHICH WOULD HAVE ALLOWED ME TO FORWARD IT TO THE FLT BEFORE ATC DID.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

An air carrier dispatcher reported that the volcanic ash report on montserrat, which was critically necessary for the safety of his flight, was not available until after the captain had penetrated the ash cloud.