Icelandic Volcanic Eruption - Significant Disruption to UK Flights

[Nymins]

Surely these test flights don't really mean much since they are only for a few hours and then stop.

Better to test an entire day of short hauls between places and then see if there is any damage.

I'd of thought it would build up in the engine over time rather than just happen all of a sudden in the space of a couple of hours.

 

[Darg]

Surely these test flights don't really mean much since they are only for a few hours and then stop.

Better to test an entire day of short hauls between places and then see if there is any damage.

I'd of thought it would build up in the engine over time rather than just happen all of a sudden in the space of a couple of hours.

Apparently it can be quite sudden, all it takes is one vital component to get a bit of ash somewhere it shouldn't be and the engine shuts down.

Honestly getting flights running a day or two quicker is not worth the lives of potentially hundreds of people that would die in a crash. I'm not trying to scare-monger but just imagine if that did happen as a direct cause of people wanting their flights to go on time.

 

[Nymins]

Ahh i didn't know that. Crazy that it can happen so fast! Really isn't worth the risk at the minute.

 

[Berserker]

Boston.com photos. #9

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/04/icelands_disruptive_volcano.html

It's #10 and #11 that I worry about. What on earth were they thinking?

I hope the end of all this chaos is coming, but it'd still take a lot of convincing for me to fly at the moment. Glad I don't have to.

 

[Reginald]

anyone know of any travel insurance that covers natural disasters? Have flights booked for a couple of weeks time (fingers crossed) but dont want to book a hotel unless I reckon I could claim it back if volcano decides to keep spewing.

Ta

 

[Amp34]

It's #10 and #11 that I worry about. What on earth were they thinking?

I hope the end of all this chaos is coming, but it'd still take a lot of convincing for me to fly at the moment. Glad I don't have to.

Nah, not really, #10 will be using a long focal length, meaning they are probably about half a mile away, way out of danger for an eruption like that (note that looks like the original non explosive eruption not the one spewing ash everywhere), #11 is pretty safe as well, that front will be moving at a snails pace, the only worry they have is if a bigger rock than usual rolls down the front and hits them.

Something along these lines:

or possibly these idiots.

 

[Vixen]

anyone know of any travel insurance that covers natural disasters? Have flights booked for a couple of weeks time (fingers crossed) but dont want to book a hotel unless I reckon I could claim it back if volcano decides to keep spewing.

Ta

You won't be able to take out travel insurance now which covers the volcano because it has already happened. Unfortunately this is a reminder to many people that travel insurance should be taken out at the time of booking as it not only covers the time you're away, it also covers delays and cancellation due to unforseen circumstances.

 

[shifty_uk]

Should I be worried about my holiday booked for the end of May?

 

[Robbo]

Should I be worried about my holiday booked for the end of May?

Probably not unless Katla goes off

 

[ChrisJSY]

Apparently it can be quite sudden, all it takes is one vital component to get a bit of ash somewhere it shouldn't be and the engine shuts down.

Exactly, turbines still use aircooling passages and operate in an environment hotter than their melting point, when these passages are clogged with foreign objects, things go bad quick.
People say that "oh yea flight 009 pretty much flew into a high density ash cloud" but it took only what 10 minutes before engines failed? Take that over a course of a few hours flight or more...
I wouldn't risk it, you can probably get hundreds of planes going for weeks but im sure signs would start showing.

What happened to the KLM test flight and borescope inspections?

 

[Andr3w]

What happened to the KLM test flight and borescope inspections?

All test flights have come back fine. No damage. I'll try find a link for you now!

 

[[TW]Fox]

You won't be able to take out travel insurance now which covers the volcano because it has already happened. Unfortunately this is a reminder to many people that travel insurance should be taken out at the time of booking as it not only covers the time you're away, it also covers delays and cancellation due to unforseen circumstances.

But what about future occasions of the same event? I've not booked my flights yet - I'm not going until September, but I'll want to ensure I purchase travel insurance that will cover me should this happen again.

 

[Cosimo]

Latest NATS update:

Statement on Icelandic volcanic eruption: Monday April 19, 0300

Based on the latest information from the Met Office, NATS advises that the current restrictions across UK controlled airspace due to the volcanic ash cloud will remain in place until at least 1900 (local) on Monday 19 April.

Anyone hoping to travel should contact their airline before travelling to the airport.

Conditions around the movement of the layers of the volcanic ash cloud over the UK remain dynamic. NATS is maintaining close dialogue with the Met Office and with the UK's safety regulator, the CAA, in respect of the international civil aviation policy we follow in applying restrictions to use of airspace. We are currently awaiting CAA guidance.

We are working closely with Government, airports and airlines, and airframe and aero engine manufacturers to get a better understanding of the effects of the ash cloud and to seek solutions.

The next update will be issued at approximately 0900 (local).

 

[Cosimo]

The latest Ash Advisory:

 

[Andr3w]

Yeh it's the latest one......posted on ocuk over 4 hours later

40minutes(ish) until the next review.

 

[Berserker]

But what about future occasions of the same event? I've not booked my flights yet - I'm not going until September, but I'll want to ensure I purchase travel insurance that will cover me should this happen again.

You'll be lucky - once bitten, twice shy and all that. It's also an "act of God" so they've got you on both points. Wouldn't be surprised if the insurers found ways to make money out of this though so you never know.

 

[Cosimo]

Yeh it's the latest one......posted on ocuk over 4 hours later

40minutes(ish) until the next review.

Oh dear, people still want to know. Are you still waiting for a flight.

 

[Andr3w]

I'm trying to get out of this bloody desert

Even the RAF can't fly into Brize at the moment

Only flying 'in an emergency'

 

[Herminator]

What are the chances air space over Europe will be open by Thursday?
and even if they are, are all flights going to be completely packed and stupidly priced?

I'm supposed to be going to Vietnam asap for work, at this rate I'll be using up my visa days without even being there

 

[Ironic Namesake]

NATS update now shows airspace closed till at least 0100 Tuesday

Based on the latest information from the Met Office, NATS advises that the current restrictions across UK controlled airspace due to the volcanic ash cloud will remain in place until at least 0100 (local) on Tuesday 20th April.

Anyone hoping to travel should contact their airline before travelling to the airport.

Conditions around the movement of the layers of the volcanic ash cloud over the UK remain dynamic. NATS is maintaining close dialogue with the Met Office and with the UK's safety regulator, the CAA, in respect of the international civil aviation policy we follow in applying restrictions to use of airspace. We are currently awaiting CAA guidance.

We are working closely with Government, airports and airlines, and airframe and aero engine manufacturers to get a better understanding of the effects of the ash cloud and to seek solutions.

The next update will be issued at approximately 1500 (local) today.