We had a volcanic ash encounter over the west of Ireland today. Shanwick informed us it might be there at multiple levels. We saw distinct thin but well defined bands of what looked like brown cirrus above and below us and then for two distinct threeish minute periods had a subtle but definitely present smell of rotten eggs in the flight deck. I asked my oppo and he denied responsibility.
There were no indications of any effect on the aircraft or engines, having just landed it is now undergoing detailed inspection.
So although the a/c is probably fine, there was definitely enough for the human nose to detect. I'd love to know the actual concentrations we encountered.
LD