[Lorian]

Looking at the latest NATS forecast the cloud completely covers the UK again from this evening, including Scotland.

It's time someone in authority took their heads out of the ash and realise it could go on for many days. Where is the disaster planning, and why have we british lost all our pluck?

What's wrong with having a couple of low-altitude corridors running between London and Paris for turbo props? We did it 50 odd years ago.

Let's count the Dash-8's etc sitting idle when they could be used....

[Lorian]

The ash appears to be heading towards the eastern coast of the USA now too.

[bumpkin]

I agree, it's shocking that the Dash, Jetstream51 and Saab 2000 are all sitting on the apron at Aberdeen apart from the ones that go to the Northern/Western Isles, the ones which go to Newcastle, Brum and Bristol could quite happily be on their way and at least giving passengers some form of movement.  The ash cloud is at it's worst above 20,000ft and so would not have an effect on the low altitude airways particularly anyway.  I guess it's the usual overkill provided by the 21st Century H&S guidelines.

PS - This is the first time that any North-European airspace was closed was during WWII and even that did not completely close, so we are witnessing an aviation first.

[bumpkin]

Here is the latest NOTAM (Notice to AirMen) from the airline I fly for

URGENT NOTAM

Posted by Clyde Whiting on 04/15/2010

Due to a volcanic eruption in Iceland a large ash cloud is currently heading southeast through UK and European Airspace-Eruption has intensified-And is to continue over the next few days
NATS, The Met Office and Eurocontrol are currently advising airports- ALL UK Airports CLOSED

All  flights for Saturday have been cancelled.
EXPECT heavy delays when operations resume- MAJOR DISRUPTION AND AIRSPACE CLOSURES EXPECTED UNTIL MONDAY 19/04/10
EUROCONTROL: DISRUPTION EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INTO NEXT WEEK
RYANAIR: ALL UK and NORTHERN EUROPEAN FLIGHTS CANCELLED UNTIL MONDAY 19/04/10 @ 1300

BRITISH AIRWAYS HAS CANCELLED ALL SHORT HAUL AND DOMESTIC FLIGHTS UNTIL MONDAY 19/04/10

UK Airspace is now closed until 0700 on Sunday at the earliest
All inbound and outbound non emergency flights in the UK are CANCELLED
ALL AIRSPACE in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Poland, Austria, Estonia, Bratislava, Switzerland, Romania, Hungary, Czech Republic, Kroatia, Italy, Slovenia, Serbia and Ukraine  has also been closed until FURTHER notice

Finish Airspace closed until 1500 Sunday 18/04/10
French Airspace is Closed until 0600 Monday 19/04/10
German, Belgian and Netherlands Airspace closed until 0700 Sunday 18/04/10

Please check this NOTAM regularly for updates.
Latest Update = 1711 16/04/10     NO CHANGE SINCE 1600   
UPDATES EVERY HOUR:-NEXT Update 1800

[eye30]

My sister and brother in law are stuck in Perth Oz as all flights to UK are cancelled.  She can't even get to Singapore, to at least have a gander at the city, as all hotels are fully booked.

At least she can stay with her son who has his own house.

Both due back in work Monday but she thinks from reports from the airline that she will be in Oz until next weekend.

[Hemmi]

so we are witnessing an aviation first.

And not the last

[Lorian]

The weather appears to say it's going to last until at least Thursday.

[Hemmi]

Click the pics for larger.

Today 3748x3656 4MB


Yesterday 7200x5600 10MB

[2i30s]

has it damaged any roads or houses ? or just airspace. 

[Hemmi]

has it damaged any roads or houses ? or just airspace. 

Farmers around the volcano are suffering from a lot of ash, but they are most concerned for the animals.










The ash is so thick it block all sunlight

[2i30s]

its very dangerous to breath,its pumus dust witch is like glass in your lungs. 

[Lorian]

We have a fine dusting of ash on the cars that have been out overnight (i30 is hiding inside).

Hemmi, what's the local view on the possibility of Katla joining her smaller sister?

[Hemmi]

Hemmi, what's the local view on the possibility of Katla joining her smaller sister?

It's really hard to predict, but if we look at history Katla has erupted every 40-80 years, last time was in 1918, so she is due.

And history also shows that eruption in Katla always follows after the volcano now active, could be weeks after or 1-2 years after.
You kind of hope that she will never erupt again, but that is unlikely

[eye30]

Just on the news that they are sending a few planes up to test the effect on the engines.

Now if all goes well it a great call BUT it only needs 1 to have a problem and be full of passengers for a disaster.

No easy answer!

[Lorian]

There have been various test flights on tne contient today, and some ferry trips at low level VFR. A BA 747 is scheduled to take a trip out west from LHR on a test flight this evening.

You can watch traffic at http://www.radarvirtuel.com/ much better than Sunday evening programmes on the BBC (top gear is a repeat) 

The latest NATS information has some new riders that sound like they are starting to worry they have over-reacted.

[Lorian]

Keep in mind if you have volcano fall-out on your precious i30 it is VERY abrasive, don't go messing with it unless cleaning it off with lots of foamy water, very clean cloths, two buckets, grit guard etc.

[Lorian]

The BA flight made a loop put over the Irish see and landed in Cardiff OK.

Expect some face saving statements, some back pedalling and some flights soon, the airline industry appears to have had enough of waiting about.

[MelWA]

On the news this evening, a family from the UK is stuck in Perth.  They were supposed to go back to the UK today or tomorrow.  They can't get a flight until May 9th   Of course everyone who is affected by the flight cancellations has travel insurance...don't they?

[bumpkin]

Yeah, but many of the insurances are void cos it's an act of God

[eye30]

Yeah, but many of the insurances are void cos it's an act of God

I would agree but not actually heard companies saying that yet. 

I wonder why they are keeping stum  - Has the Election got something to do with it?

[bumpkin]

I was off work today (local holiday) and there was a lot of discussion about it on the daytime TV progs and some companies are now saying that.  The various British Embassies are having to deal with the fallout.

[Shambles]

Well it seems the UK is back on for Tuesday flights.


Hang on... there's trouble brewing

[Hemmi]

Yeah, but many of the insurances are void cos it's an act of God

I think it's disrespect to nature to say something is made or caused by some imaginary character. It has taken our Earth billions of years to evolve the way it is today, not 6 days, 2000 years ago.

The island I live on was created by many many volcanoes after Europe split from America. Not a fictional character.

If this is a act of some god then he must be very evil

[Surferdude]

Airlines have a flight cancellation/ delay policy which should see no-one out of pocket for air fares but as for travel innsurance covering accommodation, tours etc, different companies have different interpretations. It's all in the fine print. Some use the "act of god" getout, some don't.

[Dazzler]

I wouldn't be surprised to see a few smaller airlines go under due to this event.. (must be costing them a packet to keep paying their idle staff) 

[bumpkin]

Shambles sig:

I can't wait until it rains!

Free Volvic!

It's been raining for the last 24h up here, the Volvic tastes a bit chemically, smells of rotten eggs and is gritty

[MelWA]

This from our news website.   Economy fares of up to $12,000 

http://www.perthnow.com.au/travel/news/travellers-stung-with-expensive-flights-following-iceland-volcano-eruption/story-fn30173u-1225856008767

Still haven't heard anyone on the news bulletins attempt to say Eyjafjallajokull    It is "the volcano in Iceland" or "Southern Iceland's volcano".

[Surferdude]

Still haven't heard anyone on the news bulletins attempt to say Eyjafjallajokull    It is "the volcano in Iceland" or "Southern Iceland's volcano".

Our Ch 10 newsreader in Brisbane, Bill McDonald said it tonight. No idea whether it was correct or not but he said it smoothly and without stumbling over it. My wife had noticed no one was saying its name and was suitably impressed.

[Dazzler]

We had a news bulletin tonight where they said the name and it sounded closer than some i've heard.. It wasn't the local newsreader (reckon it was a APT or Reuters bulletin or the like)

[MelWA]

Bumpkin thought he was being clever with Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

This one's the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand.  No wonder everyone knows it as Taumata 

Taumata­whakatangihanga­koauau­o­tamatea­turi­pukakapiki­maunga­horo­nuku­pokai­whenua­kitanatahu.