Volcanic Ash cloud heading to the UK

[pete]

And I'm on leave!!!

I cannot imagine an easier shift than pone with no aircraft. I feel robbed.

(Jets are particularly badly affected, we figure piston aircraft should be OK as they filter the air. Hope so anyway I'm supposed to be going flying tomorrow with the kids.)

[neil]

Interesting site for tracking aircraft

http://www.radarvirtuel.com/

As above, thats a cracking site!!

I cant get onto that site! It says the site is forbidden!

Jen

It's back up and running today. Nothing flying north of southern France

[campbell]

We are "due" to depart for Orlando on Wednesday. Hanging by a thread I think. The kids don't know the significance yet...although they are very excited by the footage of a spewing volcano!

C'mon low pressure systems, let's be having you, we've got dinner booked with Mickey Mouse!

[Rag_It]

Meant to be presenting in Austria on Monday, now being told that I have to be there, so would i consider jumping in the car tomorrow, driving down to Plymouth to get one of the few available ferries to Europe, and then doing 1000 miles in the car to get to Austria!

I LOVE MY JOB...........

[Stewart]

Well I was due to fly from EDI to LHR tomorrow morning at 6:30am then onwards to Los Angeles at midday for the Indycar of Longbeach. All I know is that the morning flight is definitely cancelled. Probably try and drive down to LHR tomorrow morning as that may be the place to be if when things eventually start moving again. Did think about the train but it is £140 each Flights are BMI & Virgin.

Ho hum

All my flights were cancelled so had no option to other than to abort All of the hotels in the USA and Hertz have been excellent offering up full refunds. Therefore should hopefully be very little out of pocket.

Here' hoping things return to normal soon for those looking to travel, particularly Campbell. Can't imagine how much of a disappointment it will be for you all if you can't go. Fingers crossed.

Right, off to see if I can get flights booked for the Indycar race at Kansas in a couple of weeks time

Stewart
P.S.
I would advise that you all check your travel insurance policy closely. You may find that it is next to worthless for situations like this.

[neil]

Right, off to see if I can get flights booked for the Indycar race at Kansas in a couple of weeks time

I'd be holding off booking for a bit. No guarantee its going to stop any time soon.

There's a decent live camera feed of the volcano here and it still looks pretty active

[tut]

And I'm on leave!!!

I cannot imagine an easier shift than pone with no aircraft. I feel robbed.

(Jets are particularly badly affected, we figure piston aircraft should be OK as they filter the air. Hope so anyway I'm supposed to be going flying tomorrow with the kids.)

Same here Pete............

tut

[tut]

That's a bugger Campbell, was just saying to Verian that at least you lot are not going on holiday to Orlando in April this year.

Hope that it changes direction before then and blows over France and gives you a break. Are you flying from Heathrow or Prestwick?

tut

[campbell]

We're out of Gatwick, having connected in from Edin obviously. There were some BA flights diverting into Prestwick, and we thought "you never know, maybe they'll re-route ours to depart from there...dream deal!" but no word other than still "Estimated" for its planned departure from LGW on Weds lunchtime. Increasingly unlikely, I know, but it ain't over until the fat lady sings (come to think of it, could we have Bjork sing at the cloud from its south-eastern side, that might chase it resoundingly north-west!!)

I see test flights are being conducted now. Interesting. I'm no aviation expert, but I wonder if they could "launch" flights up to just a few thousand feet until they get out over the Atlantic, then let them climb once clear of the "cloud"?

Doesn't help with our connection from EDI to LGW, as I'm sure domestic flights would never be able to operate much below 20k feet over the full UK distance...but with some certainty I'd be prepared to drive to LGW on Tuesday night if it meant we'd truly get away. Maybe one of our ATC experts can comment

We shall see.

[tenkfeet]

Cannot see them even risking flying near any volcanic ash . The maintenance checks required after exposure to volcanic ash are horrendous. Would ground the plane for a week .

Pilots are not going to fly anyway unless its 110% safe .

[Fluoxetine]

Pilots are not going to fly anyway unless its 110% safe .

Indeed.

The offshore industry are watching with a close eye on this, too.

Around half-a-dozen flights to the central North Sea happened yesterday - But nothing today, and not particularly positive for tomorrow.

Helicopters are affected by the ash, despite the (relatively) low level of flight - Lots of implications, if this drags on for a week or two...

[tut]

Ryan Air now closed down until Wednesday.

tut

[H8OAG]

Speaking to a Pilot from Eastern Airways who operate out of Aberdeen
The company are encouraging their staff to
consider taking leave over the next few weeks as they do not see an immediate end to the problem

[neil]

KLM have been doing some test flights this weekend and seem to think there's no problem - linky

[DavieK]

Pilots are not going to fly anyway unless its 110% safe .

Indeed.

The offshore industry are watching with a close eye on this, too.

Around half-a-dozen flights to the central North Sea happened yesterday - But nothing today, and not particularly positive for tomorrow.

Helicopters are affected by the ash, despite the (relatively) low level of flight - Lots of implications, if this drags on for a week or two...

Theres been some in field shuttle flights over the last 2 days where I am but no flights ashore. They have sent people home that are at 21 days on supply boats though.