Live Ash Cloud Site v Air Traffic

Flight Radar

Take a look at the site above. Interesting to see what will happen with the airtraffic over Europe as the cloud progresses.

Interesting to note that the CAA in the UK has said that airspace will NOT be closed.

IMO that is dangerous. is being pushed by commercial pressures, which can, in the right circumstance put flight safety at risk. At least, will cost airlines millions in engine and structural repairs from repeated exposure to ash build up in the combustion, and abrasion on leading edges of flight surfaces and rotating parts.

The biggest part for me, from last year is that previously the Engine OEMs stated that there was zero limits for ash contamination, but now there are limits, and this was produced under intense pressure by airlines operating in an already difficult trading environment.

Nice, this should be Interesting to watch

reply to post by JakiusFogg


JF

Thanks for the link

Very interesting especially when you zoom out and look at the complete Spaghetti junction over Europe !!

Your right, commercial pressures are probably skweing common sense........ hhmm a little like Fukishima Nuke Plant me thinks......... they knew all along that the rods were melting but refused to acknowledge and deal with the problem........That attitude is a common one with humans when they are trying to cover their backs and line their pockets....

Ref airlines :- If one of these aircraft was to actually ''fall out of the sky'' all hell would break loose........

What I would say to people who want to fly through the ash cloud is this............ go on do it and if the plane comes down atleast we are increasing the IQ of the gene pool

PDUK

it wouldn;t quite fall out of the sky. Look up the 747 over Indonesia.

The ash clogged the combustion chambers and caused then to shut down as the silica built up on the nozzles. The aircraft continued to glide but lost height. After it came down far enough into clean air the engines re-lit, and it climbed back to cruising altitude. However the same hit again, once they got back into contaminated air.

And the same happened again. Engine fail, and descent into clean air.

When they finally came for landing, the windscreens where completely sandblasted. So it was like landing in zero viz fog.

Now today's aircraft have landing systems, gps,approach control. But this is provided that none of the antenna systems or indeed computers in the avionics bays are not affected. Let alone the toxic gas build up in the cain air system does not cause other problems. One symptom of the 747 incident was a strong sulfur smell in the cabin. Highly poisonous.

After the kicking the CAA and the like took last year after closing airspace, they have said now that they will not close it. Although they may need to. But that airlines can operate if they can present a case for approval by the authority, that safe flight can be done.

Its a little too haphazard, and profit driven for me.

There will be a lot of engine repair shops looking forward to this one. As there will be lots and extra work required sooner rather than later for performance restoration of engines cause by operation in contaminated air.

Holy cow I'm more worried about the fact that the whole of Europe is buried under aircraft

Sky News

Now this concerns me!. Ryan Air are always after sensational, even negative, headlines. As they say any coverage is good coverage.

I really have to wonder what the pilot was thinking. And whether it is really true. As PIC with ultimate responsibility for flight safety I find this hard to believe, knowing what can happen.

So if true it took of and landed. But what where the engine readings in flight?

I know a good Borescope specialist who can tell if this aircraft's engines are now screwed! What is the betting this aircraft will NOT make an immediate turn around until checked over by engineering. Keep a look out for a grounded Ryanair aircraft with no engines!

Check this guy

BA Flight to Aberdeen

Just circling, waiting for the airport to open!!

ETA: Just seems it was a test, as it looks like he is on the way back to LHR.

Strange though the charts show contam from SFC to FL200. But all these test flights are being conducted about that level!??

reply to post by tarifa37


Don't worry. it's all under control! Different flight levels, and lateral spacing.

Plus they all have TCAS

Traffic Collision Avoidance System

More information issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency. (EASA)

SIB 2010-17 R3