Mount doom set to erupt in NZ

[mike-wsm]

'Mount Doom' set to erupt in New Zealand - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/newzealand/9687154/Mount-Doom-set-to-erupt-in-New-Zealand.html)

[Heathrow Harry]

SSK - what probably happened is that after teh well known BA incident a rule was promulgated "DON'T FLY IN ASH CLOUDS" without any limits or discretion being set#

This was placed in a large red folder and given to a guy (s) who had hundreds of other things to do on a day-to-day basis

10-20 years on we have an ash cloud over NW Europe - "where's those damn instructions?" - oh here they are..."

Plus it was a Thursday - by the time everyone realised it might be for more than a day or so all the politicians and senior management had disappeared for a longgg weekend and so the situation just drifted

[wsmempson]

I think Heathrow Harry has it.

But the corollary to having followed the old "don't fly in volcanic ash" in the 20 year old red envelope, which lead to a huge swathe of airspace being shut, was that it then required the intervention of someone in a position of authority to put their c0@k on the block and declare that there was no danger, and the airspace could reopen.

Needless to say, no-one fancied making that call ('elf and safety, and all that...) and, had a bunch of aircraft not unilaterally decided to launch from the USA, we'd probably still be looking for that person today.

[davys747]

"Mount Doom" = Mount Ngauruhoe.

Mountain talked about in the article = Mount Ruapehu.

Completely different volcanoes, same area.

[lomapaseo]

SSK - what probably happened is that after teh well known BA incident a rule was promulgated "DON'T FLY IN ASH CLOUDS" without any limits or discretion being set#

This was placed in a large red folder and given to a guy (s) who had hundreds of other things to do on a day-to-day basis

10-20 years on we have an ash cloud over NW Europe - "where's those damn instructions?" - oh here they are..."

Plus it was a Thursday - by the time everyone realised it might be for more than a day or so all the politicians and senior management had disappeared for a longgg weekend and so the situation just drifted

Just to add, since there is no certified spec of tolerance to unknown ash mixtures in engines the answer from the guy carrying the legal risk for opinions (manufactures, etc.) is Avoid and if you find yourself in it, then follow the instructions in your manual.


This is equivalent to the age old questions that pops up now and then, like how many balloons can be ingested safely


When it became obvious that there was no practical way to interpret the meaning of avoid and at the same time operate with no significant increase in risk (of not meeting the tenants of safe flight and landing) A different approach was needed. The problem is when one goes to an organization (manufacturer etc.) with nothing to gain and just legal liability.

The solution becomes one of risk management based on scientific data and understanding (isn't that the way we fly every day?).

The approach pioneered by Lufthansa and others was just that simple and in my view no different than what Alaska Air had been using since the 80's with their fleet (no incidents I might add)

The details of discussion belong in the Tech Forum

[mike-wsm]

Hullo, never been here before, thanks Mods :ok:

[GoDirect]

There has been an eruption this afternoon at around 1320 local time.

Pic and details here:

Volcano: Tongariro erupts - national | Stuff.co.nz (http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/7979461/Mt-Tongariro-erupts-again)

[27/09]

There has been an eruption this afternoon at around 1320 local time.

Pic and details here:

Volcano: Tongariro erupts - national | Stuff.co.nz

Ho Hum. Just a bit of a F##t. Not much to get excited about, the media hyping it up as usual.

[slamer.]

I wouldn't laugh ... It wont be long till their calling the shots at EK... :E

[slamer.]

How to get there and back again

12:54 PM Saturday Nov 24, 2012

http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201247/IMG_23843_460x230.jpg

The Air New Zealand's new Hobbit-themed aircraft.

Air New Zealand has launched a new Hobbit-themed aircraft in celebration of the much anticipated release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
A Boeing 777-300ER now shows an imposing picture of Gandalf and a backdrop of the Sir Peter Jackson film, to premiere in Wellington next week.
The canvas stretches 73m in length - making it the largest graphic to be applied to an aircraft. It took 400 man-hours to install.
The aircraft will be revealed for the first time to a select group of guests in Auckland this morning.
It is one of several Air New Zealand have dedicated to various causes over the years, including one made for Jackson's Lord of the Rings series, and the All Blacks.
Sir Peter Jackson's latest film will premiere in Wellington next Wednesday.