20 Apr 2010

UN / CIVIL AVIATION

Officials from the International Civil Aviation Organization discuss the recent air travel disruptions following their meeting with the UN Secretary-General. The Organization runs nine Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers across the world. UNTV

Posted at: April 20, 2010 5:07 pm

Duration: 01:35

Available in: SD

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STORY: UN / CIVIL AVIATION  
TRT: 1:35
SOURCE: UNTV 
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
 
DATELINE: 20 APRIL 2010, NEW YORK CITY

SHOTLIST:

1. Various shots, Roberto Kobeh González, President of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Raymond Benjamin, Secretary-General of ICAO meeting with UN Secretary-General
2. Med shot, González and Benjamin arriving at press stakeout
3. Cutaway, journalist
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Roberto Kobeh González, President, Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization:
"It's safe, if it is not, that's why the air space was closed to preserve the safety and now the authorities have decided to establish the operations in Europe that means that it is save. 
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Roberto Kobeh González, President, Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization:
"There are nine stations in the world that we work together, the ICAO and the World Meteorological Organization specifically to monitor the volcanic ashes. And we provide the information to the States and the States, as the Secretary-General mentioned, it's the prerogative of the States because they have to assure that the flights be save and the visibility is affected and also the ashes can affect the airplanes."
6. Close-up, journalist taking notes

STORYLINE:

Officials from the International Civil Aviation Organization discussed the recent air travel disruptions following their meeting with the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today (20 April).

President of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Roberto Kobeh González and Secretary-General of ICAO Raymond Benjamin met with Ban before talking to reporters at the United Nations headquarters.

Besides air travel disruptions, they also discussed the situation in Haiti and environmental issues with Ban.

When asked about the safety of air travel today, González said "the authorities have decided to establish the operations in Europe that means that it is save." 
 
According to ICAO, no incidents or accidents have been reported due to volcanic ash. Disruptions in air traffic, however, were experienced in the United Kingdom and Scandinavia.

González said that, together with the World Meteorological Organization, ICAO operates nine Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers across the world to specifically to monitor the impact the volcanic ashes.

Iceland's volcano Eyjafjalla erupted on 14 April 2010 causing air travel disruptions in the region.