Icelandic Volcanic Eruption - Significant Disruption to UK Flights

[Dave M]

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

Several airlines have sent up test flights, then inspected the engines and found no problems.

The Met office have gone up and found dangerous levels of ash though.

Dangerous as defined by what / whome though? Certainly not the engineers inspecting the engines that have flown through it.

 

[edgedemon]

Too late for me
We were due to fly to Jamacia this morning and as expected the flight/holiday has been cancelled

 

[MrKnifey]

Anyone noitced that Iceland itself isnt actually affected by any of this ash.. Well only a tiny bit..

 

[jamief]

Several airlines have sent up test flights, then inspected the engines and found no problems.

The Met office have gone up and found dangerous levels of ash though.

Dangerous as defined by what / whome though? Certainly not the engineers inspecting the engines that have flown through it.

But surely the risk is still to high? Imagine if all flights were allowed and even a single plane had issues, it would be disaster for whomever allowed them back up. Better safe than sorry, surely?

 

[Cosimo]

Dangerous as defined by what / whome though? Certainly not the engineers inspecting the engines that have flown through it.

Let's not forget the commercial pressures of so called engineering results. We don't know what they are and how selective the airline industry has been with its “test” flights. After all they want to fly because of financial losses. Just because Little Willie flew in one of his jets doesn’t mean that it is safe for us.

Hopefully when the test flights have been independently assessed we will have a clearer picture. I hope the authorities do not put passenger safety at risk.

 

[Ironic Namesake]

Apparently a parcel I sent to Israel has gone via airfreight from Germany , I thought there's no flights there too?

 

[Dave]

I've got a friend who is supposed to be flying back from Beijing on Wednesday via Amsterdam, take it that there's little chance of that happening now. They said the next flight back is the 30th with the planes being booked up - she'll miss University exams if that's the case!

 

[Berserker]

German airspace was briefly open overnight.

The problem here is that I think that all the evidence is based on flights that had problems after flying directly (or nearly directly) through the plume. Hardly the same thing as flying through the remnants from several thousand miles away.

I think it's a fair point - who decides what is or is not dangerous?

PS - I'm not advocating taking silly risks. I've said all along that I'd rather not fly if there is a risk - but is there?

 

[dannyjo22]

Let's not forget the commercial pressures of so called engineering results. We don't know what they are and how selective the airline industry has been with its “test” flights. After all they want to fly because of financial losses. Just because Little Willie flew in one of his jets doesn’t mean that it is safe for us.

Hopefully when the test flights have been independently assessed we will have a clearer picture. I hope the authorities do not put passenger safety at risk.

Your wrong no one will risk it. We are hearing rumours at work right now that one of the BA engines is being pulled off with 'issues' after the test flight. Just rumour at the minute.

You are a fool if you think they will go against advice and risk against the advice given to them.

No one is even suggesting risking it, despite probably needing to find a new job if this carries on for another 7 days.

 

[Slinky1989]

Apparently a parcel I sent to Israel has gone via airfreight from Germany , I thought there's no flights there too?

Apparently KLM (I think, could have been a different airline, I read it last night and can't find the info again so don't quote me ) sent out a couple of freight flights last night after their test flight and so you could have got lucky and gotten your package on one of them

 

[Westyfield2]

Your wrong no one will risk it. We are hearing rumours at work right now that one of the BA engines is being pulled off with 'issues' after the test flight. Just rumour at the minute.

OOh.

Where you getting that one from?

 

[Badboy2k3]

I should be flying to Rome from Gatwick on Friday morning with the Mrs... i don't think the chances are good to be honest . I did book my holiday using the credit card though, will there be any chance of getting my cash back if we don't end up going?

I've resigned myself to losing it in all honesty that way i'm not going to be dissapointed!

 

[matkeys]

you know some thing i do wonder is

A. how much better is the Ozone is now we havent got thousands of planes flying about, and

B wonder if the non purchuse of fuel by aviation companys will affect pump prices as surely there will be a knock on effect?

i do feel deeply glad for people that live near an airport, i bet the piece and quiet has been good

 

[Wicksta]

you know some thing i do wonder is

A. how much better is the Ozone is now we havent got thousands of planes flying about, and

B wonder if the non purchuse of fuel by aviation companys will affect pump prices as surely there will be a knock on effect?

i do feel deeply glad for people that live near an airport, i bet the piece and quiet has been good

Ozone? What does that have to do with air traffic?

 

[antijoke]

Anyone noitced that Iceland itself isnt actually affected by any of this ash.. Well only a tiny bit..

And this surprised you?

 

[True_Scotsman]

We have some Spannish people here at work, they were supposed to be flying back to Spain via Amsterdam on Saturday, they have been told they *might* be flying back tomorow but does not look good.

 

[Slinky1989]

you know some thing i do wonder is

A. how much better is the Ozone is now we havent got thousands of planes flying about, and

B wonder if the non purchuse of fuel by aviation companys will affect pump prices as surely there will be a knock on effect?

i do feel deeply glad for people that live near an airport, i bet the piece and quiet has been good

Well during the last mass grounding of fligts (sept 11), the difference between night and day temps was a whole degree celsius more globally. I also remember watching a horizon program where scientists actually found that the days were brighter too as contrails from the aircraft weren't blocking sunlight any more.

I wouldn't imagine pump prices will change much as aircraft use kerosene not petrol. Might be an extremely small difference in the price per barrel but I don't think there'd be any difference at the pump at all.

 

[CaptainComedy]

Apparently theres a cobra meeting.... Sounds like a job for G.I JOE!

 

[Slinky1989]

Also, just seen this on PPrune (directly quoted):

I've just read the report from the Dornier 228 flight DCALM (possibly the only scientific flight thats been made, the BA and KLM political stunt flying doesn't count) and they had a definite bum sucking up seat cloth moment at 5000 feet 52.75N 002.38E.

We're still currently operating in an information vacuum as to what's really out there.

BD
P.S. I don't intend posting that report up here on a public website as, to quote the author, "I'm sure you'll be aware that this was written for internal use, so is a little rough around the edges, but it seems most appropriate to simply release you the unamended document.
This is regarded as being in the public domain, although given it's not really designed for public consumption so I'd appreciate it if it was kept between aviation or scientific professionals."

 

[Pookie Bear]

Stupid volcano. I have to arrange train tickets and faff about in order to go to Bristol - and add another four hours to my trip