As was commented earlier on, by me and others, there is an obvious need for more data collection. This need was apparent last Thursday but UK (at least) appears to have no organised programme to do ANY of the following:
- consolidate all existing data on position and composition of all relevant areas of the ash cloud. ('Relevant' means 'containing enough ash of particle size x per cubic metre to exceed limits for normal aircraft turbine operation'. If there are no agreed definitions, then make some up and quickly!).
- arrange for a 'picket line' of dispensable aircraft (eg. Nimrods) to fly routes along 'known' boundaries of the relevant cloud, to reconfirm that modelling and data collection is accurate. (I'd bet a lot that neither is accurate enough.)
- set up more ground- and sea-based data collection (LIDAR?,....?) to ensure cloud can be mapped accurately for the forseeable future - noting the long potential period of eruption.
- set up notification system that allows much more flexible response, airport closures / reopening, route closures / reopening, etc. so that maximum safe air transport can be achieved. Make sure everyone (ICAO, other multinational bodies, EU, NATS, operators, ....) are all signed up to making this work.
- make sure all operators already operate recording systems that allow COMPLETE logging of all engine-hours in 'ash-prone' areas.
Get all this in place by the end of next week at latest.
THEN (and only then) decide what can be operated safely and economically, taking account of increased inspections, reduced time on-wing for ALL engines exposed to dust, ...
The cost of all this is PEANUTS compared with one day with nothing airborne across Europe!