Gulf of Mexico oil spill

[Hirem J Trashcan]

If the huge amount of oil "debris" is set on light, will there be any effect on aircraft movements in the GoM ? Any requirements for additional engine inspections etc for planes flying over/close to the burn zone, or will it become a huge exlusion area?

[WHBM]

We hear that US ATC will immediately announce a continent-wide shutdown of controlled airspace because of the slight likelihood of one micron going through an aircraft engine, everyone will be stranded away from home, commercially the industry will go into meltdown, and the bureaucrats will then shilly-shally because athough they can see that this was a stupid reaction, nobody can bring themselves to be first in rescinding it.

Oh ..... sorry ..... wrong story.

[jcjeant]

Hi,

The only dangerous to fly through the smoke is the risk of cancer.
The fumes are the result of incomplete combustion and thus are carcinogenic as also the residues on the sea surface.

[Cacophonix]

Given that a burn to date has only managed to remove about 100 barrels from the estimated 5000 a day pouring out of the leak, I would suggest that the 'threat' to aviation is not the issue here!