Originally Posted by
Capot
Well, yes and no. ICAO EUR Doc 019, if that is what you are referring to, comprises guidance and recommendations for various bodies to follow if a volcano blows in the N Atlantic area, but is a very long way from being law in England and Wales or anywhere else in the UK
Is UK signed up to ICAO? Yes. Is part of NATS licence to comply with ICAO etc? Yes.
IF the person or organisation who decided on the airspace restrictions got it wrong, or was not even empowered to do that in law even though he/she/it obviously can in practice, repeat IF, then that's where the airline lawyers will aim..
Very big if and given that NATS has complied precisely within the terms and conditions of it's licence they're squeaky clean (and I do believe I've said this previously).
Reason? Don't be naive; money, and lots of it, in compensation at taxpayer expense.
Compensation for what, following the guidance and recommendations of one of the governing bodies for Aviation? I would very firmly put the boot on the other foot and state that NATS should be prosecuted if it had FAILED to follow the ICAO guidance and recommendations.
BD