Ash clouds threaten air traffic
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 6
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From: lincoln
Have UK Military aircraft been grounded also? Its eeriliy quiet here in the Vale of York.
I wonder if the Russians know this?
Phil
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 477
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From: East Midlands
VFR OPR SHOULD EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION AND MUST ASSURE THEMSELVES THAT THEIR INTENDED FLIGHT CAN BE CONDUCTED IN A SAFE MANNER BEFORE FLYING. THEY SHOULD NOTE THAT ATSOCAS CONTROL CAPACITY MAY BE SEVERELY LIMITED DURING THE PERIOD. AUS 10-04-0218/AS2.
Or maybe all the NATS guys are going home to sit it out! 
Andy
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 309
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From: .
@ Simonpro (post #30)
Great photo. Have you got a weblink we can get this from?
Great photo. Have you got a weblink we can get this from?
Many thanks, but is there a "live" version with regular updates?
You can use this:
EUMETSAT IPPS animation - Meteosat 0 degree Ash Iceland
Which will show the most recent one for public display (public display is about 30-60 minutes behind realtime). You can also get various animations and stuff going on there.
I think there's a video on our frontpage too, but I seem to have lost it.
The worst of the ash has bypassed Britain I think, but there's still quite a lot of it around that doesn't show up too well (as it's incredibly thin). Short-term I doubt it would do aircraft any harm, but over the course of several hours (or repeated flights) even this very thin stuff is a real pain in the ass.
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 52
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Air travel could be curtailed repeatedly
The previous eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano, whose ash cloud has shut down airspace over Britain, lasted for more than a year, according to an expert. The Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted for the first time in 200 years on March 20, in a dramatic display that sent fountains of lava spewing into the air.
All flights to British airspace have been suspended after ash caused by the eruption forced air traffic controllers to restrict take-offs and landings.
Professor Bill McGuire, of the Aon Benfield Hazard Research Centre at University College London, said the previous eruption, in December 1821, lasted until January 1823.
He said air travel could be curtailed repeatedly if the current eruption lasted the same amount of time.
However, he added: "There is no way of knowing for certain how long this eruption will last based on previous events. The level of disruption would also depend on how much gas and ash is produced."
All flights to British airspace have been suspended after ash caused by the eruption forced air traffic controllers to restrict take-offs and landings.
Professor Bill McGuire, of the Aon Benfield Hazard Research Centre at University College London, said the previous eruption, in December 1821, lasted until January 1823.
He said air travel could be curtailed repeatedly if the current eruption lasted the same amount of time.
However, he added: "There is no way of knowing for certain how long this eruption will last based on previous events. The level of disruption would also depend on how much gas and ash is produced."
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 415
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From: EDI, LHR, NQY
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 110
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From: Denmark
Impact on piston engines ??
We are now sitting in Denmark with perfect weather, forecasts show CAVOK and a closed airspace.
I can see the impact the ash has on jet turbines at high altitiudes, but how does it affect a Cessna 172 at 1000 ft ??
And finally - if the ash can damage a piston engine at 1000 ft - shouldn't I then worry about my car as well ?
I can see the impact the ash has on jet turbines at high altitiudes, but how does it affect a Cessna 172 at 1000 ft ??
And finally - if the ash can damage a piston engine at 1000 ft - shouldn't I then worry about my car as well ?
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 28
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From: center of the world
...just had a satcom call from your citation, over Paris, they departed VFR from Luton at around 1330, at low alt. no problems so far. He could see a very thin layer at high alt. which might be ash.
Joined: Sep 2008
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 935
Likes: 52
From: Scotland
Biggin ATC were this morning informing aircraft that Farnborough would be offering a basic service only after 1100Z. Can anyone tell us why Atsocas are affected by this on a sunny (if hazy) VFR day when pilots still want to use them?
There were a lot of people pushing to get airborne this morning to beat the deadline!
There were a lot of people pushing to get airborne this morning to beat the deadline!
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Can't remember
Jep - The airfilter on a car will prevent ash entering and causing damage, however if it becomes blocked (unlikley on the ground) the engine will stop. Not so bad in a car but in a C172 and the like could be intersting. of course you could use the carb heat in a C172 but thats not filtered
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 145
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From: England
Too Much Health and Safety?
Is it not just possible that the ATC authorities are over-reacting to this ash cloud?
Eric Moody's incident happened at night. I seem to remember keeping my distance from a fairly dramatic volcanic ash cloud being emitted from a volcano in Alaska using a Mk 1 eyeball. Similarly did we not quite often spot erupting volcanoes whilst en route to Oz via Indonesia?
Eric Moody's incident happened at night. I seem to remember keeping my distance from a fairly dramatic volcanic ash cloud being emitted from a volcano in Alaska using a Mk 1 eyeball. Similarly did we not quite often spot erupting volcanoes whilst en route to Oz via Indonesia?
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 38
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From: Scotland
^^
Ryanair are offering it:
Ryanair are offering it:
Passengers who were booked to travel on one of the below cancelled flights can transfer to the next available flight FREE OF CHARGE or apply for a refund on their unused flight(s) at the airport ticket desk, online by clicking on one of the below links or by calling our reservation centre.
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: London, UK
Will people be getting refunds for cancelled flights?
Volcanic ash alert: Air passenger rights
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
From: UK, Paris, Peckham, New York
Right, shall we bring the winch and gliders down to heathrow then? I rekon I could easily get a 3000ft winch launch from that runway! Depends how long the cable is!
Anyway, whats the big deal, i was in Newcastle recently and saw this, did this stop the flights
Anyway, whats the big deal, i was in Newcastle recently and saw this, did this stop the flights