Volcanic Ash Cloud Causes European Air Travel Chaos

[astral]

Airline passengers are facing massive disruption across the UK after an ash cloud from a volcanic eruption in Iceland grounded planes.

The Air Traffic Control Service (Nats) said no flights would be allowed in or out of UK airspace from midday to 1800BST amid fears of engine damage.

Airports operator BAA confirmed all flights at Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick would be suspended from midday. In Scotland, authorities have already shut all their airports.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8621407.stm

VOLCANIC ASH CLOUD

The eruption in the Eyjafjallajoekull area is the second to occur in a month

This eruption has released ash to significantly greater heights

Volcanic ash contains tiny particles of rock and even glass, which can wreak havoc with machinery

A 1982 BA flight unknowingly flew into an ash cloud, shutting down all four engines

Met Office forecaster Philip Avery said the ash could take several days to clear.

[needforspeed]

Dutch airport Schiphol Amsterdam closed as well, at least till 19:00 local time.

[astral]

Denmark planning to close their airspace from 1600GMT

[astral]

Norway and Sweden have also closed their airspace.

There are knock on effects, with Europe bound passengers stranded in the US and Middle East.

[MB1]

Just been watching BBC news, report said that the volcanic ash cloud is two thirds the size of the UK, now that's a dangerous cloud for aircraft to fly near to or through so I'm not suprised that the authoritys have taken the measures that they have as the ash can cause failure to engines.

BBC have also just reported that there may be disruptions to flights for another 24hrs,although the BBC has also said that flights may resume at 6pm UKtime but is unlikely to do so, so anyone who is hoping to fly needs to keep up with the news of latest happenings.

Edited April 15, 2010 by MB1

[Richb2004v2]

My flight to heathrow has just been canceled. I'm now stuck in a guesthouse in Tripoli I'm now on for a flight on Saturday. I only hope everything is ok by then. What do you think?

[MB1]

Just watching BBC news, BBC news update on the situation said that UK air traffic control have said there will be no flights into or out of UK until at least 7am in the morning UK time.

Only flights allowed will be emergencies.

richb, I don't think anyone can say for sure as to if you will fly Saturday, it really depends on various factors, one of them being as to whether there are anymore large volcanic erruptions that spew ash into the air, and which way it go's.

Edited April 15, 2010 by MB1

[gotlost]

It's an Icelandic conspiracy. Stay where you are and PARTY ON DUDES.

[Richb2004v2]

It's an Icelandic conspiracy. Stay where you are and PARTY ON DUDES.

PARTY ON!!!! I only wish I could.

[smokie36]

My flight to heathrow has just been canceled. I'm now stuck in a guesthouse in Tripoli I'm now on for a flight on Saturday. I only hope everything is ok by then. What do you think?

The weather across England has been great for the last few days but is set to change tomorrow with high winds and a drop in temperature over the weekend so hopefully this should move things on.

Anyway you could always take a flight to the Med and sit it out in the meantime.

[fredob43]

BBC new's has just had an "expert" on and he said quote It will take at least 36 hour's to clear after the VOLCANO stop's, as yet it's still banging it out. So could be day's.

[jkinbkk]

Britains set to give themselves a long weekend and skive off work Friday due to Icelandic volcano.

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society...;-201004152642/

[Lancashirelad]

Here's the interesting story about the 1982 BA flight:

Definately not a good idea to fly into ash clouds!

1982 BA Flight 09

[Slaps]

Here's the interesting story about the 1982 BA flight:

Definately not a good idea to fly into ash clouds!

1982 BA Flight 09

My friend was a steward on that flight

Definite no sh!t there I was story

[onnut]

I hope it clears up by Saturday as my sister and brother in law will be flying out to holiday here.

[elkangorito]

What about Thailand? Will the 'cloud of ash' affect things here?

[LaoPo]

The situation in Europe is very serious now with thousands of canceled flights

It has never happened before that so many European countries had to ground all of their planes and close their airspace totally.

Europe flights could be grounded for 48 hours by ash

The eruption in Iceland on Wednesday sent ash kilometres into the air. Satellite images show the cloud as brownish-black as ice particles mingle with ash.

this picture shows the expected area with volcano-ashes by April 16th 06.00GMT

The situation is not expected to improve overnight as the ash cloud spreads. It is unclear when flights will be allowed to resume.

with maps and video:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8623534.stm

LaoPo

[LaoPo]

UK extends ash air restrictions

with video

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8623806.stm

Holland's airports are closed also.

LaoPo

[phutoie2]

Funny article in this mornings online "Torygraph" - Icelands Revenge!. Send cash, not ash!.

[Spee]

Could last a long time. I was working a Space Shuttle mission when Mt Pinatubo blew its top. From low earth orbit the ash plume could be seen ranging from PI all the way to Hawaii. But that was nowhere close to being a busy air corridor like this area. Wow! Good luck and safe travels to everyone being impacted.

[noahvail]

Heard from my cousin in Madrid, who has to get back to his home in London. All Spanish airports are closed as well. He reckons trains up to the Chunnel, then hopes to get a train into London. So instead of hours.....GOK how long.

[doctormann]

I spoke to Lufthansa this morning concerning my flight to Frankfurt tonight and my onward connection to Birmingham tomorrow. The message at the moment is to check in as normal as they are assuming - there goes that word again - that European airspace will be clear by the time the flight from BKK gets there. They say that they will contact me if anything changes.

I have a feeling that it will all go belly up and that if I make it as far as FRA I shall get stuck there. Certainly nothing moving out of FRA at the moment.

Nothing to do except to follow instructions I guess. Can't really cancel my non-transferable, non-refundable tickets. Probably the best option would be if LH rescheduled everything to the following day. I could live with that and hopefully the ash will have moved off by then.

Living in hope!

DM

[canuckamuck]

It only takes one ash hole to screw things up for everyone

[LuckyLew]

It only takes one ash hole to screw things up for everyone

2 funny

[astral]

0500 GMT

Much of Western European airspace is still closed.

The UK is unlikely to open for flights before 1800GMT at the earliest.

What about Thailand? Will the 'cloud of ash' affect things here?

I doubt the cloud will reach Thailand, but there will be a knock on effect for flights

to and from Europe. Just as there is for flights from the US to Europe.

[Mario2008]

Euro control made the following anouncement:

For immediate release, 15 April 2010

Update on European Air Traffic situation

Brussels, Belgium – The EUROCONTROL Central Flow Management Unit was

advised yesterday afternoon of a volcanic ash cloud moving from Iceland in a

easterly direction towards north western European countries.

In accordance with agreed international procedures the Central Flow

Management Unit (CFMU), air navigation service providers (ANSP) and

meteorological authorities put in place the appropriate coordination procedures

in order to handle this event.

Based on the guidelines of the International Civil Aviation Organisation normal

air traffic control services cannot be provided to flights in airspaces affected by

volcanic ash. Therefore several air navigation service providers have issued

notifications to airlines requiring the temporary suspension of air traffic. These

suspensions are being put in place via air traffic flow management restrictions

being implemented by the CFMU.

At present most air traffic in the north of the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark,

Norway and Sweden is suspended. These restrictions will be extended to

cover the southern United Kingdom area in the coming hours.

The main north Atlantic east bound flow arrived at European airports with little

disruption. Routes to handle the afternoon westbound flow have been moved

to the south to avoid the volcanic ash zone. However, it is expected that this

flow of traffic will be disrupted.

Regular teleconferences attended by ANSPs, airport authorities, airlines and

CFMU are being held to advise all parties of the measures.

Passengers seeking information on flights should contact their airline or airport.

http://www.eurocontrol.int/corporate/galle...ement_final.pdf

As it is still night in Europe, I gues there will be an update later.

Other airports now closed include Schiphol (The Nehterlands) and I understand Belgium and France.

EDIT: german airspace also now seemes to be closed

[spacemand]

They are saying now that Copenhagen Airport will probably be closed all day to and not until noon CET as first expected and that the ash will have an effect the whole weekend :s

[spacemand]

This is a good site to follow the air traffic.

Its VERY quiet at the moment in Northern Europe.

http://www.flightradar24.com/

[Microwave]

The shutting down of airports throughout Europe will have a knock-on effect on air travel worldwide for quite a few days, given the volume of airline traffic flying to and from Europe from the 4 corners of the globe. If the volcano coughs & weezes some more, then expect even more delays.

I was in The Philippines soon after Mt. Pinatubo erupted. Volcanic ash is very very fine, like sand. This ash gets into absolutely everything and mucks up everything it gets into. One consolation to those living in the path of the ashfall: Collect small bottles of the ash and sell it as souveniers. Enterprising Philippinos did so after Mt. Pinatubo erupted, even selling these small bottles in the departure lounge of Manila's International Airport. I still have my 4 bottles!

[webfact]

BreakingNews: Authorties close Frankfurt, Duesseldorf airports as volcanic ash spreads over Germany