Ash clouds threaten air traffic

[bakerpictures]

Indeed, Radarvirtuel.com has been great company and I'm watching what may be the last arrival at LHR, showing as the BAW48 from Seattle soon on finals.

[oversteer]

Think yourself lucky it wasn't ash cloud from Katla

"Over the past 1,100 years, Eyjafjallajökull has erupted four times: in 920, 1612, between 1821–1823, and in 2010. Each of the first three of these incidents directly preceded a major eruption in the nearby subglacial volcano, Katla."

[AN2 Driver]

Think yourself lucky it wasn't ash cloud from Katla

hey, this thing is far from over yet. Seen suggestions that this might just be the start... There are quite a lot of these Volcanos up there, and some might get ideas once this one is at it....

Edit: and one of these took 3 years?

[22 Degree Halo]

Well worth watching this animation all the way through:

Satellitt: Europa ? yr.no

[Unixman]

COA77

How on earth was COA77 (BRS-CLE) allowed to go?

[Genghis the Engineer]

Originally Posted by R44-pilot

So now the airspace is officially closed, are VFR flights no permitted either?

VFR flights are currently permitted.

G

[Squawk_ident]

Unixman:

How on earth was COA77 (BRS-CLE) allowed to go?

Going South like all others from EGKK and then West to join Nats. Brest Control will be very busy. Btw everything seems stopped at EGKK/LL.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

<<VFR flights are currently permitted.>>

Only the government can prohibit flying, which it has not done. NATS, in consultation with various agencies, decided to refuse clearance to enter CAS. That's it in a nutshell. Much of EU is in the same boat.

[ChalfontFlyer]

Try www.flightradar24.com , it seems to be working OK & claims that it's in real time vs. the 5 minutes delay on virtuel.

Looking somewhat empty now over the entire British Isles airspace!

[Landroger]

Empty!

Flightradar24.co is empty - VK702 was the last to land at LGW a couple of minutes ago. That is scary. I live in SW16 and it is un-naturally quiet!

Anyone for Eurostar shares? My friends will be returning from Paris on Eurostar tomorrow anyway, but they are worried they will have to stand!

Roger.

PS: The general public are almost completely unaware unless they have access to television.

[Skylion]

As yet nobody seems to be asking the question where exactly the cloud is and whether a blanket ban on all flying in UK airspace is necessary rather than allowing tactical clearances in non affected areas where and when possible. The concern for safety is naturally paramount but if the guiding principle were "Keep as much of the show on the road as we safely can " would we be seeing this blanket approach?

[Squawk_ident]

Weird scene inside a French airspace...

SAS925 EKCH / KIAD A333 between CAN and JSY (Jersey)!! Hope for him it's the last time here!

[EDMJ]

Copenhagen FIR now essentially closed, as per following NOTAMS:

1004151015-1004161000 est. volcanich ash cloud originating in iceland is having major impact affecting danish airspace. opr should refer to london vaac advisory for further info. in accordance with icao volcanic ash contingency, no ifr clearance will be issued for penetration of the forecast contaminated area that lies within danish airspace. this will be regulated by atfm measures. gnd - unl.

1004151200-1004190800 est. due to volcanic ash cloud temporary restricted area (danger area over high seas) is established within the entire copenhagen fir. no vfr traffic is permitted. gnd - unl.

[22 Degree Halo]

Scotland's First Minister has set up an emergency response group to deal with the volcanic ash incident and the resultant disruption to Scottish airports.

[ficrew]

Wind up here is expected to turn on saturday. Start blowing from the north. So hopefully the ash cloud should blow southward which will open up Europe. Icelandair managed to get 2 flights out this morning. Flights to AMS and FRA. It´s going to be a very long flight home. Expecting to go southward toward France and then west out to sea before heading northbound home.

Last time this volcano came alive it stuck around for over a year. Could be an interesting year.
From Iceland with Love

[Squealing Pig]

A very important point was brought up earlier by Peter we, if this goes on for more than a few days, It might start effecting our jobs, How many airline can continue to pay its staff for a few weeks if no money is coming in through the front door

[A4]

Hmm. Hopefully this might focus attention on just how negligable mans contribution to planetary CO2 emmissions actually is. This eruption (which may just be the start of something much bigger has probably pumped out more than an entire day/week/month/year's worth of aviation emissions. Has any expert been on TV giving an estimate - I'd be interested to know.

I'm all for reducung waste and doing our bit - but this shows that mother nature can, at her whim, neutralise any effort we mere mortals make.

If this does indeed continue for a few days/weeks it has the potential to tip some carriers over the edge.

Very interesting times ahead.

A4

[stansdead]

@ Squealing Pig

Very few. In a word.

But, it's worse than you think. Not just money not coming IN, but money in the form of refunds flowing OUT.

Cashflow nightmare.........

[Feathers McGraw]

Those of you who are interested can see an animated gif of the PlanePlotter network's view of UK airspace from 0600 to 0900 here:

http://i43.tinypic.com/2vmtsnq.gif

It clearly shows the traffic dispersing and everything going very quiet.

There's another 3 hours worth here:

http://i42.tinypic.com/1zqadkh.gif

This is from 0900 to 1200, and it's even quieter....

[Eugene Johnson]

Questions about Ash

Thinking of flying in vocanic ash?

Read the ICAO manual "Volcanic Ash, Radioactive Material and Toxic Chemical Clouds"

Read the Met warning chart - surface to FL550 http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/aviation...1271331761.png

Your choice