Hi People
Theres too much going on here that is just too vague. For a start the area of volcanic ash is a best guess anyway based on a model that has no input with actual location of volcanic ash being as it cant be measured. Therefore, it could be far far more wide spread than we think, or significantly less wide spread. The reason this is becoming so emotive is because no one is actually aware of the severity or inconsequence of any risk.
Thats fine people but the notion that suddenly an aeroplane is going to fall out of the sky if a test flight is conducted is just ludicrous. For those that have even bothered to examine the BA9 incident, even they, after flying in the most concentrated part of the ash cloud, got all 4 engines running again once they descended out of it so comments like
Do you seriously think ATC will be able to get everything out of the way in time of a dozen aircraft falling out of the sky at the same time?
One "aeronautical engineer" is wheeled out after a flight in a Dornier, that BTW DID NOT CRASH and says that he wouldnt want to put airliners up there. Sadly he has lost all credibility as it was HIS PERSONAL OPINION released immediately after he returned........ there had not been any time to examine the data recovered. Maybe he smelt sulphur and that clouded his judgement but firing off like that was nothing more than him getting his 15 minutes of fame. People on this forum are really good at castigating anyone who comments on an aircraft accident before the report is released. So it should be that this idiot be castigated.......... for speaking out of turn.
It seems to me that instead of having a plan to keep everyone on the ground, we should try to devise a plan to get people back into the air. I dont say that due to bravado, i say that because i am aware of the risks of flying an aeroplane, and they are acceptable risks, otherwise the aviation industry wouldn't exist. OK so we now have a new risk but NO ONE knows the extent of this risk......... but for sure, aircraft arent going to spontaneously combust...... and so far the aviation world has had far more engine failure incidents than it has volcanic ash incidents and we are trained for these........AND it has already been proven that volcanic ash resides in the atmosphere 100% of the time. Therefore we should start slowly and with certain restrictions in place and then move on once data has been gathered.
So a start could be, for example, to let 4 engined aircraft operate, within the assumed affected area in Daylight hours only and outside of visible cloud and then inspect said aircraft for engine damage on a continual basis and as we build a knowledge base, move forward.
Scaremongering isnt going to help anybody and neither is bravado. Moving forward, step by small step will allow us all to learn, which after having read EVERY post on this thread, is the one undeniable common denominator associated with it.......everyone needs to learn....... so when HEATHROW DIRECTOR says.....not with me on board..... GOOD get back to West Drayton and do the job that you are actually qualified to comment on
Regards
GW