his dudeness wrote:
Now as the maps provided are IMO sadly inadequate and the engine/airframe manufactureres have diverted from their zero ash to 2mG ash concentration,
where did you get that info from???
They DID NOT. Some UK CAA official brabbled something to that extent, but it is not true..
For ALL engine manufacturers it is still "zero ash tolerance" and it will stay that way..
Do the airlines just gamble on their engines life?
Yes, they do, and on the lives of their passengers... ( those airlines I mean who constantly are trying to bull....everybody into thinking that flying into volcanic ash were safe...)
There is no catch 22...
If you fly into an area as defined by "aviation color red" as the London VAAC hand out, you are flying into a SIGMET'ed danger zone..
if nothing happens, so be it..
IF, HOWEVER something happens, it is YOUR rear-end as PIC on the line..
And by the way, ALL engine manufacturers treat an ash encounter, no matter what concentration, as an FOD matter and regard it as "operational abuse", means no warranties, no liabilities...
nothing, zinch, zero..
so, if nothing else holds you back from flying in a VAAC designated area, you could tell your aircraft owner, that if something happens, not big stuff, just a bit, HE will have to pay for all maintenance and restoration the engines may need afterwards...( no engine service plan and no warranty contract will apply to ANY ash damage..) and on a Cessna Sovereign that could be a cool 2 Mio USD per side, if not more...
maybe he then, with that information in hand,your aircraft owner WILL ask YOU to delay any flight until the VAAC cloud has passed either from your departure point, or anywhere enroute, or from your destination
it's as simple as that at the end of the day...