Ash clouds threaten air traffic
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PICTURES: Finnish F-18 engine check reveals effects of volcanic dust-16/04/2010-London-Flightglobal.com
The Finnish air force has released images showing the effects of volcanic dust ingestion from inside the engines of a Boeing F-18 Hornet fighter, while it prepares to make inspections on several additional aircraft.
Five of the air force’s Hornets were involved in a training exercise on the morning of 15 April, just hours before the imposition of airspace restrictions due to the ash cloud spreading from a major volcanic eruption in Iceland.
One aircraft’s engines have been inspected so far using a boroscope, with melted ash clearly visible on its inside surface. The air force decided to release the images to show the potentially damaging effects of current flight activities, says chief information officer Joni Malkamäki.
Five of the air force’s Hornets were involved in a training exercise on the morning of 15 April, just hours before the imposition of airspace restrictions due to the ash cloud spreading from a major volcanic eruption in Iceland.
One aircraft’s engines have been inspected so far using a boroscope, with melted ash clearly visible on its inside surface. The air force decided to release the images to show the potentially damaging effects of current flight activities, says chief information officer Joni Malkamäki.
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Dornier 228 has been up to sample the air at various levels, The expert quoted "there's a lot of muck up there " and " Not a place for big jets" paraphrased.
Nuff said, went up, inspected, deemed not safe.
Update. ROBDEAN below found the link thanks,
to quote
A high-tech plane with sensors calibrated to find volcanic ash has landed after finding 'a lot of muck' in UK airspace.
Aeronautical engineer Dr Guy Gratton of Airborne Atmospheric Measurements, said he would advise against flying passenger jets in those conditions.
Source: BBC News.
Nuff said, went up, inspected, deemed not safe.
Update. ROBDEAN below found the link thanks,
to quote
A high-tech plane with sensors calibrated to find volcanic ash has landed after finding 'a lot of muck' in UK airspace.
Aeronautical engineer Dr Guy Gratton of Airborne Atmospheric Measurements, said he would advise against flying passenger jets in those conditions.
Source: BBC News.
Last edited by dope05; 16th Apr 2010 at 22:41.
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To all of you doubters and naysayers out there, please stop for one moment think of it this way:
As an airline executive or pilot faced with a go/no go decision, could you make a decision to go into an area which is forecast, under a best case scenario, to cause damage to some of the most expensive components on your aircraft (engines)? I'm not an engineer, but I am lead to believe that a hot section inspection is not cheap, let alone hot + cold and replacing defective parts! (For evidence of this occurring, please see Finnish Military pictures above).
The worst case scenario is that you lose an aircraft and crew. Strictly from a business point of view, and aside from all of the damage to your airlines' reputation, the sheer monetary loss would be astronomical. I dare say that no insurance company will cover your loss for deliberately flying into (forecast and completely avoidable) dangerous meteorological conditions.
Also, as has been said before:
"Its much better to be down here wishing you're up there than to be up there wishing you're down here."
and
"Superior Airmanship is the application of superior judgement to ensure use of the airmans' superior skills is not required"
As an airline executive or pilot faced with a go/no go decision, could you make a decision to go into an area which is forecast, under a best case scenario, to cause damage to some of the most expensive components on your aircraft (engines)? I'm not an engineer, but I am lead to believe that a hot section inspection is not cheap, let alone hot + cold and replacing defective parts! (For evidence of this occurring, please see Finnish Military pictures above).
The worst case scenario is that you lose an aircraft and crew. Strictly from a business point of view, and aside from all of the damage to your airlines' reputation, the sheer monetary loss would be astronomical. I dare say that no insurance company will cover your loss for deliberately flying into (forecast and completely avoidable) dangerous meteorological conditions.
Also, as has been said before:
"Its much better to be down here wishing you're up there than to be up there wishing you're down here."
and
"Superior Airmanship is the application of superior judgement to ensure use of the airmans' superior skills is not required"
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Some parts of Russian airspace should have been closed more then 24 hours ago, when ash started to propagate it's airspace. !! Yesterday !! night crews around Moscow reported St Elmo's Fire (visible electrical discharges) at altitudes from 2500 to 11000 feet (therefore ash IS there). All Russian airspace remains fully open despite that more then 24 hours has passed since data came that ash IS there. That's insane!
Officials from Russian meteorological service said that "they have no accurate measuring equipment since 90's and rely on western colleges for ash forecasts" Still, they don't follow those forecasts and keep all FIR's open (except for Kaliningrad - the one on the far west, between Lithuania and Poland).
I bet if we have fatal accident resulting from ash, then in will happen in Russia. Total disregard for safety.
Officials from Russian meteorological service said that "they have no accurate measuring equipment since 90's and rely on western colleges for ash forecasts" Still, they don't follow those forecasts and keep all FIR's open (except for Kaliningrad - the one on the far west, between Lithuania and Poland).
I bet if we have fatal accident resulting from ash, then in will happen in Russia. Total disregard for safety.
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$200,000,000 a day loss....
No flights, no revenue, no jobs. Because of the nature of this disaster, loss to the business of public air travel will not be recovered. Jobs may have to be cut. You know it and I know it.
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GSLOC
night crews around Moscow reported St Elmo's Fire (visible electrical discharges) at altitudes from 2500 to 11000 feet (therefore ash IS there).
Kind regards
S
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Where does the buck stop?
We need to know who took the decision to shutdown ALL (I stress ALL) British commercial aviation and the reasons for doing so. No whitewash will be acceptable. This is far too serious a threat to the British airline industry.
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During my many thousands of worldwide flying hours I often experienced St Elmo's Fire. Are you saying that I spent a significant time of my flying career flying through volcanic ash?
Kind regards
S
Kind regards
S
Last edited by GSLOC; 16th Apr 2010 at 23:57.
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We need to know who took the decision to shutdown ALL (I stress ALL) British commercial aviation and the reasons for doing so. No whitewash will be acceptable. This is far too serious a threat to the British airline industry.
We have seen the real damage on the Finnish aircraft...
The difference is surely that Heathrow, where the airspace is closed, is approximately 1000 miles from Eyjafjallajoekull and any ash will be heavily diluted whilst the BA009 flew close to Mount Galunggung where the density the ash cloud was relatively very intense. It will be interesting to see the analysese of ash densities when they are published.
Different volcano...different silica content...pick up the geography textbook...
Check out Vodafone.is - Eruption in Iceland 2010 Friday 16th April 2100-2105hrs GMT. Certainly erupting a lot still.
Last edited by Re-Heat; 17th Apr 2010 at 00:47.
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We need to know who took the decision to shutdown ALL (I stress ALL) British commercial aviation and the reasons for doing so. No whitewash will be acceptable. This is far too serious a threat to the British airline industry.
Unbelievable.
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NATS - You truly are world leaders
Thank you NATS for being the only people around here to have the b*lls to put your money where your mouth is and make a very difficult decision that will ultimately, probably have saved lives by being the first ANSP to close their airspace to all aircraft. An unprecedented decision which it took the rest of Europe many hours to follow and could not have been an easy decision to take bearing in mind all the flak it was bound to generate. I hope at some time in the future the person who ultimately took that brave decision will be recognised and acknowledged.
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Latest ash forecast (as of 0000z) is available
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/aviation...1271463398.png
Doesn't look hopeful for today.
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/aviation...1271463398.png
Doesn't look hopeful for today.
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Given that this ash cloud didn't suddenly appear over the UK on 15 April, anyone aware of any preliminary discussions and plans amongst the airlines, CAA, METS, NATS, etc. for potential disruptions and options? I realize the options would probably be limited to deadheading equipment out and forewarning passengers (and selling stock), but it seems some planning could have or may have taken place.
Or did the jetstream just eddy south unexpectedly and suddenly?
Not a conspiracy theorist, and not pointing fingers at any organizations, just wondering why this slow moving ash cloud suddenly seemed to be a major issue with little to no forewarning -- or was that just a function of the press reportage?
Or did the jetstream just eddy south unexpectedly and suddenly?
Not a conspiracy theorist, and not pointing fingers at any organizations, just wondering why this slow moving ash cloud suddenly seemed to be a major issue with little to no forewarning -- or was that just a function of the press reportage?
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We need to know who took the decision to shutdown ALL (I stress ALL) British commercial aviation and the reasons for doing so. No whitewash will be acceptable. This is far too serious a threat to the British airline industry.
Not only the airline industry and travel agencies, but think of all the freight not getting delivered where it's supposed to be.
It's a MESS!
We can only hope the winds change direction.... and soon!
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Big eruptions again this morning (UK & Iceland time)
Eyjafjallajökull frá Hvolsvelli
Vodafone.is - Eruption in Iceland 2010
Eyjafjallajökull frá Valahnúk
If you don't believe me, as when you view it's quiet again, I have saved the images
Eyjafjallajökull frá Hvolsvelli
Vodafone.is - Eruption in Iceland 2010
Eyjafjallajökull frá Valahnúk
If you don't believe me, as when you view it's quiet again, I have saved the images
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for those who enjoy complaining.... here's Switzerland:
A0182/10 - DUE TO VOLCANIC ACT IN ICELAND AND THE RESULTING ASHCLOUDS IN THE
FIR SWITZERLAND, ALL CIVIL IFR AND VFR OPS ARE SUSPENDED.
POLICE, SAR AND HEL EMERG MEDICAL SER FLT ARE EXEMPTED.
SFC/UNL. 16 APR 21:59 2010 UNTIL 17 APR 07:00 2010. CREATED: 16 APR 14:15 2010
A0179/10 - EXP CLOSURE OF SWISS AIRSPACE AND SUSPENSION OF ALL CIVIL IFR AND
VFR OPS FM 1004162200 DUE TO VOLCANIC ASH CLOUD.
SFC/UNL. 16 APR 11:54 2010 UNTIL 19 APR 23:59 2010 ESTIMATED. CREATED: 16 APR
11:54 2010
Not even VFR allowed.
A0182/10 - DUE TO VOLCANIC ACT IN ICELAND AND THE RESULTING ASHCLOUDS IN THE
FIR SWITZERLAND, ALL CIVIL IFR AND VFR OPS ARE SUSPENDED.
POLICE, SAR AND HEL EMERG MEDICAL SER FLT ARE EXEMPTED.
SFC/UNL. 16 APR 21:59 2010 UNTIL 17 APR 07:00 2010. CREATED: 16 APR 14:15 2010
A0179/10 - EXP CLOSURE OF SWISS AIRSPACE AND SUSPENSION OF ALL CIVIL IFR AND
VFR OPS FM 1004162200 DUE TO VOLCANIC ASH CLOUD.
SFC/UNL. 16 APR 11:54 2010 UNTIL 19 APR 23:59 2010 ESTIMATED. CREATED: 16 APR
11:54 2010
Not even VFR allowed.