I have just walked back from t'pub under a clear, starlit sky. There is no way that an aircraft would encounter volcanic ash tonight (25 miles from LHR). This is a massive over-reaction.
When Mt St Helens blew in 1980, the actual plume was shown on the met charts and we planned around it. Some ash covered most of North America but it didn't cause any problems.
On 24/2/90 I operated LHR-ANC. There was a large plume to the north of the airfield (Mt Redoubt), so we flew past the airfield and approached from the south (KLM had previously decided to fly through the plume).
My point is that it is still possible to operate during volcanic activity, so long as the major plume is avoided. To close an entire airspace in absolutely clear conditions has dubious logic.
Dave
Last edited by Airclues; 16th April 2010 at 07:46.