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Old 15th Apr 2010, 13:05
  #148 (permalink)  
Chris Scott
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Blighty (Nth. Downs)
Age: 77
Posts: 2,107
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Litigation, Litigation, and Litigation

JonC,

Happy gliding! (Assume it'll be a winch-launch?)

The latest chart fom the UK Met Office's VAAC (Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre) is here (as already mentioned on robdean's post):
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/aviation/vaac/data/VAG_1271331761.png

These are forecast charts, covering the surface to FL550 in three layers.

To quote a footnote from the chart:
"Rmk: Ash concentrations within the indicated areas are unknown."

The following is a quote from the Met Office website:

"The Met Office is continuing to monitor the spread of the ash plume from eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano on Iceland.
Our forecasters monitor volcanic eruptions as part of the Met Office’s role in the global network of Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres (VAAC). Our Environment Monitoring and Response Centre (EMARC) is working closely with the Icelandic Met Service to study the plume and predict where it may spread as the situation develops.
Volcanic ash can be dangerous for aircraft, causing damage, reducing visibility, and potentially clogging engines. Through EMARC we’re responsible for the Iceland area.
Using observations from Iceland, satellite imagery and our specialist model which predicts how pollutants move through the atmosphere, we’ve sent out advisories to keep the aviation industry and pilots aware of the situation."

Am beginning to wish we had a Meteorology forum on PPRuNe.

Having interpreted these advisories, has NATS itself taken the decision to close UK CAS (with advice from its own lawyers), or has it been leaned-on by HM Government?

Chris
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