What damage, long or medium term is this likely to do to engines and airframes?
BOAC
As long as it is medium or longterm damage and not "instant" damage that is of little concern to us other than through increased airfares to cover the extra maintenance and rectification work.
That problem becomes a business cost problem and not a safety issue.
What I would like to ask the sooth sayers here is what their solution is?
Barring a detailed research programme into the damage effects of low level ash which will still need field testing what are the alternatives?
Do you close down masses of airspace which may contain tiny amounts of ash until they are totally clear?
Or do you take a slightly less cautious approach?
We already identified that as yet NO aircraft has been downed with loss of life because of ash. That even includes heavy ash encounters.
That cannot be said of Bird strikes yet we accept those risks as we do other risks which do have a fatality record.
Let us just hope that in this latest eruption the ash is not directed and held over the UK for days like last time.
Pace