Merapi Volcano

[wingz5000]

Hi Guys, Im planning a ferry flight of a single from Malaysia through Java to Australia.Wondering about Merapi Volcano, is there much disruption to aviation and does anyone have a link to a satellite image of the ash plume?
Thanks.

[blueloo]

Maybe you can get info from the Darwin Volcanic Advisory Centre.... (I think thats correct)

[visibility3miles]

There is a short thread about this already, but try this link:
BoM-Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre

http://www.pprune.org/tech-log/43184...pi-erupts.html

And a Wiki article:
2010 eruption of Mount Merapi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Note that "pyroclastic flow" means the hot lava is moving at 300 mph or more, which is a problem if you're on the ground, but probably not if you're in the air.)

[mickjoebill]

Ive been planning an aerial filming job there this weekend.
No disruption to local domestic flights from Semerang Airport 65km to the North.
DERAZONA HELICOPTERS may be able to help with flying conditions to the east.
Vulcanologists say that eruptions may continue, so ensure your info is up to date.

Job hasn't happen as it was "the wrong kind of ash" !

This website is worth a look
Merapi Update for 10/30/2010: Ash reaches Yogjakarta | Eruptions | Big Think
So2 aerial map
http://www.temis.nl/aviation/so2/omi...030_310_lr.png
Pyroclastic flow here
YouTube - Indonesia buries victims of Mount Merapi eruption


Mickjoebill

[piggybank]

Air Bali are the people using the Derazona Airservices 206 here in Bali so I have put the numbers here in case its of use, Google has Air Bali as well.

Office Number [phone] | 767466

Fax Number [phone]

24HR Contact Numbers: [phone]

[phone] (Wayan Patra)

[phone] (Greg Pitman)

[phone] (Krisna Dewi)

[phone] (Nyoman Sena)

[wingz5000]

Good stuff, Thanks Guys.

[routechecker]

Hummmm....

Incident: Thomas Cook Scandinavia A333 near Batam on Oct 28th 2010, entered volcanic ash cloud

An Thomas Cook Scandinavia Airbus A330-300 on behalf of Garuda, registration OY-VKG performing Hajj flight GA-6010 from Solo City to Batam (Indonesia) with 383 pilgrims and further on to Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), was about 30 minutes into the flight when a sulphuric smell was noticed in the cabin later followed by some slightly abnormal engine indications in the cockpit. The airplane continued to Batam for a safe landing on schedule.

The airplane was not able to continue to Jeddah on schedule due to ashes ingested by the engines while the aircraft obviously entered an ash cloud of Indonesia's Merapi volcano.

A replacement Iberworld Airbus A330-300 registration EC-JHP reached Jeddah with a delay of 21 hours.

Solo City is located about 18nm east of currently active volcano Merapi, which had erupted on Oct 26th. Darwin's VAAC (Volcanic Ash Advisory Center) forecasted volcanic ash up to FL300 following that eruption. Batam is located about 635nm northwest of Merapi volcano.

The Airbus A330-300 is capable of seating 440 passengers in high density single class configuration. Garuda has leased in a number of A330-300s from Iberworld and Thomas Cook Scandinavia for the Hajj flights.

[Tyke]

Whilst not wishing to minimise the effect of ash on aircraft engines, it is worth noting that the above report is completely wrong, although not with any malicious intent, I'm sure.
The aircraft has a new engine fitted and experienced a known phenomemon of blade tip rubbing (as notified by RR). The smell was there and the engine stalled. Merapi had erupted and the aircraft took off from Solo. All facts which pointed towards ash ingestion except the first, which wasn't known by the crew.
The engine was boroscoped and no evidence of ash found. The aircraft is again happliy plying its' trade on the Hajj.
With reference to Merapi - keep a sharp lookout - it erupted again yesterday, although the previous ash ejection quickly dispersed.

[WHBM]

So an aircraft registered in the EU, with an EU AOC, was operating from an airport 18 nm from the active volcano; they had a problem and were cautious but it turned out to be not volcanic-related.

Would this EU be the same one as that which banned all flights well over 1,000 nm from another volcano 6 months ago ? Why the difference in approach ?

[Down Three Greens]

Tyke is well informed. A quick look the VAAC chart of that day would give a better picture. At the time of the flight there was NO volcanic ash. There was an eruption at 0800Z which was after the flight landed at its destination, even so the volcanic ash cloud does not cover the route and was moving SW.

Volcanic ASH Advisories

FVAU01 ADRM 272349 2010300 2350
VA ADVISORY
DTG: 20101027/2349Z
VAAC: DARWIN
VOLCANO: MERAPI 0603-25
PSN: S0732 E11026
AREA: JAVA
SUMMIT ELEV: 2947M
ADVISORY NR: 2010/9
INFO SOURCE: MTSAT-2, FY2, CVGHM
AVIATION COLOUR CODE: RED
ERUPTION DETAILS: VA PLUME LAST OBS TO FL300 AT 26/1830Z.
OBS VA DTG: 27/2330Z
OBS VA CLD: VA NOT IDENTIFIABLE FROM SATELLITE DATA
WINDS SFC/FL140 090/15KT
FCST VA CLD +6HR: 28/0530Z
NO VA EXP
FCST VA CLD +12HR: 28/1130Z
NO VA EXP
FCST VA CLD +18HR: 28/1730Z
NO VA EXP
RMK: VA NOT IDENTIFIABLE ON SATELLITE IMAGERY FOR 24 HOURS.
ADVISORY TERMINATED DUE TO LACK OF RECENT OBSERVATIONS. WILL BE
MONITORED FOR FURTHER ACTIVITY. GRAPHIC AT [LOWER CASE]
HTTP://WWW.BOM.GOV.AU/INFO/VAAC/ADVISORIES.SHTML
NXT ADVISORY: NO FURTHER ADVISORIES.
DARWIN VAAC.

--

VOLCANO: Merapi 0603-25
PSN: S0732 E11026
AREA: Java
SUMMIT ELEV: 2947M

ADVISORY NR: 2010/11
INFO SOURCE: Ground reports.
AVIATION COLOUR CODE: RED
ERUPTION DETAILS: High level eruption observed from ground at 08Z.

OBS VA DTG: 28/1215Z
OBS VA CLD:
SFC/FL300 S0730 E11035 - S0835 E10935 - S0720 E10845 -
S0730 E11035 MOV SW 15KT

FCST VA CLD +6HR: 28/1815Z
SFC/FL300 S0730 E11035 - S0925 E10920 - S0710 E10800 - S0730 E11035
FCST VA CLD +12HR: 29/0015Z
SFC/FL300 S0730 E11035 - S1005 E10905 - S0655 E10700 - S0730 E11035
FCST VA CLD +18HR: 29/0615Z
SFC/FL300 S0640 E10610 - S1045 E10855 - S0745 E11055 -
S0700 E11015 - S0640 E10610

In simple terms...don't believe everything you read in the press.