Volcanic ash cloud and Private / VFR flying (merged)
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GBHZO....[QUOTE]Fisbangwallop... what is the GA picture looking like so far today?[/QUOTE
Just done a morning shift, not too busy after yesterdays full on day, that said the weather not as good here in Scotland as yessterday....looking at the UK radar picture the south of England once again stuffed full of 7000 sqk's....
Also nice to see 2 BA 747's in Prestwick this morning, New york-London via Prestwick and 7 hour coach journey 
Just done a morning shift, not too busy after yesterdays full on day, that said the weather not as good here in Scotland as yessterday....looking at the UK radar picture the south of England once again stuffed full of 7000 sqk's....
Also nice to see 2 BA 747's in Prestwick this morning, New york-London via Prestwick and 7 hour coach journey
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ZO.....Will be there awaiting your call in the morning then entertaining some Leading Edge folk in the afternoon......they picked a good day to visit...not!!!!!
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Been a great day. The controllers at both Stansted and Luton very helpful and let us fly over the airfields and do a few orbits to take some photos!
Free Airspace.. - a set on Flickr
Stansted was very busy.......! Lots of GA wanting to fly over the airfield! I'm sure we heard one guy ask for a low flyby at Luton and was given the OK!
Photos: Airbus A320-... Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net
Now updated to include photos of Birmingham.
Photos: Boeing 757-... Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net
Free Airspace.. - a set on Flickr
Stansted was very busy.......! Lots of GA wanting to fly over the airfield! I'm sure we heard one guy ask for a low flyby at Luton and was given the OK!
Photos: Airbus A320-... Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net
Now updated to include photos of Birmingham.
Photos: Boeing 757-... Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net
Last edited by Tupperware Pilot; 19th Apr 2010 at 18:49.
SVFR clearances
I was wondering why during the current grounding of IFR flights, Gatwick are happy to offer SVFR clearances through their Class A airspace and Heathrow are'nt. Perpaps we should have a "temporary Reclassification of the London Tma to Class G! Afert all Nats is very happy to upgrade Class G to Class A for " purple" events!
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Gatwick has a class D zone, not class A, hence VFR is allowed.
As for CAS-T (not 'Purple' these days) for royal flights, I think (but stand to be corrected) that that is a matter for the MoD and the CAA, not NATS.
As for CAS-T (not 'Purple' these days) for royal flights, I think (but stand to be corrected) that that is a matter for the MoD and the CAA, not NATS.
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No VFR in France?
Roofy: See the French have closed all their airspace and their airfields as a result of , you guessed it, Volcanic Ash!!!
No GA in France, no open airfields!
No GA in France, no open airfields!
Thanks
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I've been at a busy aero club in north london that has a bush in it's name, the last aircraft out today got a fly through at Luton not above 500ft (not me, but not heard in a bar either). Some fun to be had if so inclined 
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French VFR
Drambuster
Was closed as per the Notams for ALL flying including VFR. All French fields north of 48 north were ordered to close at around 1200 hrs Friday. Good news is now all open for VFR, normal over reaction. French are (to justify earlier decision) giving warning to exercise care and remind you the risk to your motor is yours!
Noted lot of activity on the various airfield web cams today no sign of ash but did see one guy smoking outside the terminal at LFAT :-)
Was closed as per the Notams for ALL flying including VFR. All French fields north of 48 north were ordered to close at around 1200 hrs Friday. Good news is now all open for VFR, normal over reaction. French are (to justify earlier decision) giving warning to exercise care and remind you the risk to your motor is yours!
Noted lot of activity on the various airfield web cams today no sign of ash but did see one guy smoking outside the terminal at LFAT :-)
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Holland is STILL shut down to everything without an engine; are we now the only country with a blanket ban on GA?
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I flew in an out of the ash layer several times today. It's only visible when you are level with it. But when you're in it you can smell it. So unless you can smell it's likely you're not in it. Also it had zero impact on the aircraft despite several climbs and descent through the layer which was quite thin where I was.
So for light aircraft no need to panic. Unless you plan to fly for an extended period in the ash layer. The stink alone will drive you out of it anyway. On the other hand I would tend to avoid any ash layer you could see from above or below. That might be nasty.
So for light aircraft no need to panic. Unless you plan to fly for an extended period in the ash layer. The stink alone will drive you out of it anyway. On the other hand I would tend to avoid any ash layer you could see from above or below. That might be nasty.
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I think this whole situation is being handled in an incredibly inept manner.
Some airlines are going to go bust pretty soon. Cargo is rotting in warehouses... Stranded passengers are going to make huge claims on their insurances.
Nobody seems to be collecting data on where the stuff is and what (if anything) it does to engines. The Met Office quite obviously hasn't got a clue. The CAAs are totally lawyer-bound. And there isn't anybody else.
Somebody is going to have to get a lot more realistic pretty soon... but that's not the "European way" of doing things.
Eventually, airlines will collect some data and threaten legal action against the regulators. Then things will change fast.
Some airlines are going to go bust pretty soon. Cargo is rotting in warehouses... Stranded passengers are going to make huge claims on their insurances.
Nobody seems to be collecting data on where the stuff is and what (if anything) it does to engines. The Met Office quite obviously hasn't got a clue. The CAAs are totally lawyer-bound. And there isn't anybody else.
Somebody is going to have to get a lot more realistic pretty soon... but that's not the "European way" of doing things.
Eventually, airlines will collect some data and threaten legal action against the regulators. Then things will change fast.