Mount Merapi erupts.
 

I've been following this elsewhere and am wondering if there will be any restrictions to aviation put in place. According to the latest VAA the ash plume is already at FL300 and will remain so for a while.

Volcanic Ash Advisory 5

The plume is moving West at approximately 25Kts which I appreciate is over the sea but not knowing the area particularly well I'm hoping someone with better knowledge of the vicinity might be in a better position to understand the implications for aviation if any.

Know it-track it-avoid it.

If the first two have been completed then the last one is easy as long as it doesn't shut down all the air routes.

I'm thinking that if over the sea flying over or around it might still be an option. Of couse it it blows up another 20K and stratifies at various levels the danger zone will increase substantially.

And?....
 

Try flying around Merapi into SOC or Jogja, those old fumes and ash are nearly always there. What's the story today, pilot-wise?

Merapi has always been active - sometimes it spews more ash
than usual. Never had a prob with it and can be always gone around.

Visible cloud of brown ash and smoke around the top of Merapi on the TV in Jakarta today

Where to get info?
 

Apart from airspace/airport being closed, how do i use the info from VAAC ( the only one i know ) or notams to determine it is NOT safe to fly through that airspace?
Obviously, not close proximity to the affected area. Any info or any website that tells you that the level/concentration of ash in a particular airspace is deemed unsafe?

Many thanks.:O

VAAC is enough along with upper air wind charts. I just simpley
note the last actual wind and expected plume thickness and reroute
as (if) necessary. Last time Merapi needed a virgin thrown into it
the plume top was 6000ft so with a 13,400ft MEA (like Surabaya)
it was safe.

If you dont like it just dont go.

18nm............
 

scary stuff......

Volcanic Ash Graphics 6

WIII affected? :confused:

Was reading the text....no clue what it means.....:O

Quite a few airlines are being affected by this event now by cancelling flights between Singapore and Jakarta and I now feel vindicated for starting this thread.;)

BBC News - Merapi volcano forces cancellation of Jakarta flights

Reports coming in of lava flow reaching 16km distance and the plume is currently up to FL250. Latest Darwin VAAC here.

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/VAAC/OTH/AU/MSG3120455.01.txt