Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: skarpi
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 01:48 PM

hallo my friends , here is the reason no flights are aloud

http://www.visir.is/article/20100417/FRETTIR01/772927764

those pictures are taken at noon on a bright daylight under neath
the eruption ..and I know people are not happy about this all
but think about this , if this small volcano can make all those problems over the world ,
how hard is it gonna be if yellowstone goes up ?

I hope this will stop soon , just an hour ago I was watching
a live camera from the volcano
http://eldgos.mila.is/eyjafjallajokull-fra-thorolfsfelli/

I it stopped for a moment and then púff again ...

sorry I came in here .....

all the best from Skarpi ...

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: bubblyrat
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 01:38 PM

Both Henley & Marlow are on Heathrow flight-paths (more or less) ,so the skies around here have been blissfully quiet for the past few days, although RAF Benson's Merlins & other "Helos" don't seem to be unduly affected,nor the noisy little glider -tugs from Booker,about a mile away ! Let's return to civilised transport,ie sailing ships and steamers,that's what I say !

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: G-Force
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 01:08 PM

If we nuked Iceland, where do you think the fallout would go?

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: GUEST,PeterC
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 12:59 PM

Totally clear sky all day today. Normally by this time in the afternoon the vapour trails would be turning into a thin sheet of cloud.

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 12:35 PM

I found a link to the Met Office running update of the dust cloud and its forecast location for the next day. VOLCANIC DUST FORECAST UK.
I am not planning on flying anywhere at present.
Quack!
Geoff the Duck.

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 11:50 AM

Who was on the last flight into the UK on Wednesday night? We arrived at Gatwick from Malaga at 23:20. But flights were still arriving as the queue at immigration never got any shorter!

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: The Smiler
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 03:58 AM

LOL

He was lucky to get on a tunnel train. He certainly did well.

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 03:16 AM

Tinfoil hats on, chaps!

My colleague got home from Holland a day late, after commandeering a car from a Dutch colleague, driving from 'sGravendeel to Calais, going through the tunnel, then catching a train from Ashford to London, then London to home.

I tried most of the day to register a claim for a refund of his air-fare from KLM - the website had no mechanism for doing it, and the answering machine messages said that their customer-service and claims offices were closed!

I say let's nuke Iceland. It's all their fault! :-) :-)

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: The Smiler
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 05:47 PM

Oh Dear

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 05:41 PM

We are certainly doomed... we just don't know the time scale yet.....and whether it will be an asteroid, volcano, the Sun going nova...or North Korea getting hold of some fireworks.

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: The Smiler
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 04:21 PM

Are we doomed Jack?

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: Jack Campin
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 04:14 PM

This sort of thing (volcanos erupting ) has been going on for millions of years,and we ain't dead yet ; we just never relied on air-travel (or any sort of travel) before ----what's the panic??

Look up what the Laki eruption of 1783-4 did.

It blew up before in the 930s on an even bigger scale.

For something really big to worry about, look up the eruption of Toba in Sumatra about 70,000 years ago. That came close to making humans extinct. And it's on the same fault where several major volcanic/seismic events have happened in recent decades, like the 2004 earthquake/tsunami. That's just the sort of thing you'd expect in the leadup to a supervolcano eruption.

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: GUEST,Seaking
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 04:11 PM

The entire UK offshore Oil and Gas industry is equally affected as there have been no helicopter flights since Wednesday. I'm due off next Tuesday so hopefully the situation will be improved by then and the backlog of flights cleared. I feel for those currently unable to return to shore for urgent family matters, compassionates etc.

Chris

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: The Smiler
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 03:32 PM

As long as my daughter gets home in 2 weeks. Otherwise Skarpi is in big big trouble :-)

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: bubblyrat
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 03:20 PM

This sort of thing (volcanos erupting ) has been going on for millions of years,and we ain't dead yet ; we just never relied on air-travel (or any sort of travel) before ----what's the panic ??

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: black walnut
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 02:06 PM

Thanks. It is a little bit disconcerting.   I'm just about all packed ~ just a couple more items to put in the knapsack. But it's all up to the jet stream at the moment, isn't it? And whether the volcano blows again? It's a long flight over and anything could happen between Toronto and London. Amazing to be at the mercy of nature. It's a good lesson.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: The Smiler
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 01:21 PM

Good luck with that BW

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: black walnut
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 01:15 PM

I'm supposed to be flying to London from Canada on Monday. Somehow I have my doubts....oh well, better late than never, I suppose.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: Suffet
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 07:57 AM

Greetings:

We are watching these developments with great concern from here in North America as well. Anne Price and I begin a mini-tour of the London area with our respective spouses on May 6, and we fear our plans may be in jeopardy. But while that is important to us personally, it is only a minor concern compared to the great economic disruption that has already occurred and which can substantially worsen in very short order.

Beyond that are the potentially large scale agricultural, public health, and social disasters waiting to happen. The news commentators are already talking about a similar eruption in Iceland in 1783-1784 that killed about one-fifth to one-quarter of that country's human population, up to one-half of its livestock, and which may have contributed to the death of as many as 20,000 people in Ireland, Great Britain, and on the Continent.

--- Steve

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 05:59 AM

Latest news - UK flights grounded until at least 0100 tomorrow (17 April).

DeG

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 05:12 AM

One of the problems with airport checkin areas is lack of seating. Certainly at Malaga airport I counted possibly 20 seats and there are 75+ check desks - result.....chaos!!

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 04:43 AM

And the news this morning reports that the "no fly" area has now drifted (extended to) as far as Poland.

John

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 02:55 AM

Btw, something like 100 planes over the years have had engine trouble from volcanic ash - including at least 2 from St Helens - which is why no planes will fly till the sky clears of volcanic ash.

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 02:46 AM

The famous Galunggung gliding club

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: The Smiler
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 01:39 AM

No flights until at least 19:00 today (Friday) UK time.

From little snippets in the news, there seems a possibilty that the ash may still be over the Uk over the weekend, or did I miss hear that.

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: open mike
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 01:01 PM

When the forest fire in this area created a lot of ash, people were advised to wear masks...which were available at drug stores and also at hardware stores...(in the paint dept.)..the ones that protected from particles the best are N-95.

When Mt. St. Helens blew up there was ash several inches deep as far away as Idaho and Montana, 1000 miles. people collected it and you can still find "souveniers" in bottles, test tubes, etc.

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: The Smiler
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 12:54 PM

I am sure he will enjoy himself in Amsterdam BWM :-)

Dutch and Belgium Airspace closed and France looks as though it is heading in the same direction.

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 11:20 AM

I think that had we been flying back today from Malaga we would have seen the problem on the internet (we always take our laptop abroad, and extended our stay in the hotel as necessary.

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 10:38 AM

There are problems for people also because the disruption of flights is causing a flood of travellers trying to book on ferries and Eurostar (it's alleged!). My colleague has been unable to get a booking on either of those - all booked up tonight. Just had a message from him that the earliest he can get a booking on Eurostar is Sunday!

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: Emma B
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 10:18 AM

map of areas affected by ash fallout

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: Emma B
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 09:45 AM

By this morning, the disruption to air traffic stretched from the UK to Scandinavia.

"Airspace was shut down to all but emergency flights from midday to 1800BST (1100-1700 GMT) in the UK.
It was also closed in Ireland.
Oslo airport, which is Norway's largest, was closed, while Finland's airport agency Finavia said air traffic to northern Sweden and northern Finland was also affected
In Denmark, officials said airspace would be closed from 1800 (1600 GMT).
There were also reports of major disruption expected in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium."

BBC report

The British Lung Foundation's spokesman has recommended anyone living with a lung condition to carry their medication as a precaution although does not feel it poses a major health hazard

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 09:36 AM

We flew home from Malaga in the south of Spain on an Aer Lingus flight last night - very lucky as they are all cancelled today.

Incidentally, despite a brand new terminal at Malaga Airport, boaring was a shambles for our flight - you would think they would get it right, not helped to some extent by the mob trying to board Ryanair and Easyjet flights in the same section!

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: The Smiler
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 09:19 AM

Well the other threads are about Iceland and Skarpi.
This thread is about UK airspace and flights.

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: SINSULL
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 08:37 AM

Multiple threads on this. Maybe a clone can combine them.

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 08:35 AM

Yep, them too! :-)

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: The Smiler
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 08:08 AM

Absolutely and the Bankers :-)

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 07:36 AM

My colleague's stuck in Holland, no flights to H/side from Schiphol. He's trying to get on P&O Rotterdam - Hull, but I'd bet everyone else is too!

I blame Gordon Brown.

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: The Smiler
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 07:16 AM

Been trying to help my friends who were flying to Malta this afternoon from Luton Airport.
They had to get the train from Lincolnshire this morning at 8, so too early to know if their flight would go.
Managed to get through to Ryanair about half an hour ago and they said that it would be unlikely if any flights resumed much before midday tomorrow.
The first available flight to Malta on Saturday.
I just caught them at Loughborough train station, just before they boarded the train to Luton. So they are now on there way back home.
Ryanair were very good, becuase they said that there was little point going to the airport and they would book them on the next available flight or (wow) give them their money back.

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 06:02 AM

You forgot about them ruining the Hull and Grimsby fishing industry too, Roger.

It's Retribution on a Grand Scale! :-) :-)

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 05:40 AM

These Icelanders, eh? First they ruin our banks, then they ruin our flights, next it will be our weather. Send a gunboat!

RtS

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 05:35 AM

"Also, we've been predicted a long, hot summer in the UK"

I bet you believe in fairies at the bottom of the garden too, Arnie! :-) LOL!

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: Arnie
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 05:10 AM

Further to my above posting, I've just seen the latest message from Skarpi. I hadn't realised things were that bad in Iceland following the latest eruption. I hope Skarpi and his fellow Icelanders come through this safely - puts our flight and weather problems into perspective!

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: Arnie
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 05:06 AM

I'm sure that on a separate thread, Skarpi told us that it was only a small volcano and not to worry! At the moment, every airport in the UK is closed for business because of the ash causing massive disruption. Skarpi mentioned that the small volcano could set off a larger one next to it - has that happened? Also, we've been predicted a long, hot summer in the UK - will this ash ruin it for us?

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: GUEST,suzi
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 03:28 AM

Hope Skarpi is ok. x

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 03:05 AM

When Mt. St. Helens blew in Washington State, our skies in Wyoming clouded up and our cars were covered with ash. Anyone with heart or respiratory problems had to stay in for several days.

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: Rowan
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 03:02 AM

They say it's in the upper atmosphere.

Which is the altitude at which most intercontinental aircraft fly. Some years ago an Oz pilot over Indonesia had all four engines clag up with ash from Meraki coating the turbine blades and the aircraft dropped to about 3000' (as I recall) before he could 'jump start' any of them.

And nobody was equipped with bicycle clips, either.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: MartinRyan
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 03:01 AM

While waiting to go on stage at a concert in Spiddal, near Galway in the west of Ireland yesterday evening, I was struck by the curious colour of the sunset. Even by the spectacular standards of Galway Bay, it was very striking. Looks like I now know why!

Regards

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15 April
From: The Smiler
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 02:29 AM

They say it's in the upper atmosphere.

Subject: RE: Flights across UK severe disruption 15/4
From: Ebbie
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 02:19 AM

Wow. I know what that's like. In Oregon and Alaska both, eruptions have at times severely curtailed air travel due to volcanic ash. Car engines can also take a bad hit.

Good luck

Eb

Subject: Flights across UK severe disruption 15/4
From: The Smiler
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 02:00 AM

In case Mudcatters haven't seen the news this morning on BBC UK

Just seen the news on BBC UK this morning and all flights seem to have been cancelled today in Scotland due to the volcanic ash floating over the UK. They are now saying that literally every airport in England, Wales and Ireland will face bad disruption.

So anybody picking people up from airports should keep an eye out as well as those flying today.

Seems like Schiphol (Amsterdam) and Belgium are also affected.

This the link to the BBC website, although it is well behind the live broadcasting on TV
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8621407.stm