NEWCASTLE - 8

[deltahotel9]

So it travelled between Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Edinburgh but did not enter the red zone, so why is the airspace closed then? Obviously we are missing something here

[fl dutchman]

Looks like a complete standstill at NCL. Inbounds all diverting or cancelled and no departures.

Will be interesting to see if RYR make it in and out later today.

[SWBKCB]

Both RYR's on their way!

[ash666]

Good for them. I saw that a RYR flight from Tallin to Dublin went straight over EDI this afternoon. Point to make??

[SWBKCB]

...but now diverting to LBA.

[ash666]

that's even more ridiculous when it had already got over the top of Newcastle. I wonder who made that decision?
Any sign of ash falling on NCL?

[ash666]

another BA plane just gone over NCL. This is all very strange.

[sunshine79]

Looks like the BA flight flew over EDI and GLA and is heading to LBA.

[ash666]

I'm getting worried for BAW9271. It's gone LHR-ABZ(lots of circling)-Man-NCL-Gla-EDI-NCL(again)-Man(at the moment). It must be on its last drop of fuel.

[Jamie2k9]

Could it be doing a test flight like Ryanair did this morning to check for ash.

[deltahotel9]

According to the Look North the Emirates started to taxi before been told it had to return, then the airport representative said airlines had the final decision, it just doesn't add up. Perhaps I'm being naive but if the ash cloud is at 20,000 ft why can't they just climb to 19,000ft level off and fly under it until they are in clear air then climb out? Same for arrivals descend sooner and fly under the cloud, sounds simple enough doesn't it?

[ash666]

Jamie
Good thinking! Heading in the direction of LHR now.

[fl dutchman]

Yes its doing a test flight.

Is the problem not supposed to be UP to 20,000ft

I understand a few aircraft today have made it into NCL airspace only to divert away, was certainly the case with a KL this afternoon.

Is it really the airlines decision? I think not.

[Jamie2k9]

While over NCL, EDI, GLA, ABZ and heading for MAN it dropped a about 20,000ft and slightly below before going back up to between 25 - 30,000 once past MAN.

[ash666]

Its down at LHR. I'd love to know the results. Spotless?

[spaceman18]

No airlines have approval to operate in high density ash. Nearly all airlines have demonstrated a case for safely flying through medium density. Unfortunately they believe the high density came over NCL today.
As has been said, the ash is posing significant problems below 20000ft, above that, in alot of areas its fine, hence why planes have been seen flying above NCL.
Yes its causing problems, but at least there are no blanket bans like last year, and the decisions are being made based upon better info.

[CentreFix25]

Did todays outbound Emirates not operate? I saw the inbound land.

[ash666]

Centrefix:
see post 24th May 2011, 20:20

[ash666]

looking at flightradar the ash cloud now extends over southern UK and into Europe but lots of flights operating over LHR etc.
Seems as though the rules get re-written when the southern airports would be affected.

[SWBKCB]

Emirates departed about 07.45 this morning.