Uk airspace retricted/closed

[westcoaster]

Due to the volcano in iceland erupting, the ash cloud has caused the uk airspace to be restricted/closed until 1800, except for emergency diversions, here is the bbc reports, also found a free air traffic radar site here. the air space is usually very busy but at the moment is bare. this is only the second time this has happened iirc the last time was sept 11 , also here you can see what the ash can do to the engines.

 

[flymo]

I remember this problem with Speedbird 9 back in 1982, it kind of started my fascination with flying and all things aviation. I saw the same guy Eric Moody on Sky News this morning and if anyone knows what the ash can do he and his crew do.

I think it was Cpt Moody, it may have been someone else, who once said "I'd rather be down here wishing I was up there than up there wishing I was down here".

I quite agree.

 

[mbonwick]

It's the first time ever UK airspace has been totally closed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Airways_Flight_9

 

[Ploughman]

Not quite total.
Lands End, Penzance and St Marys still open.

 

[mbonwick]

^No, they were closed at 1 point, but have since re-opened as the ash has moved further east.

 

[CarterUSM]

Is it possible to make out this ash in the sky? Lovely blue skies up here in central scotland.

 

[mbonwick]

According to the BBC, no.

It's so fine it just makes the sky look a little bluer than normal AIUI.

 

[WatcherZero]

Should make for a very red sunset/dawn if its still around.

 

[Oracle]

Farnborough was open but biz jets that used national airspace were grounded.

 

[christopher]

The aviations equivalent of the wrong type of snow

 

[Peter Mugridge]

There was a noticablity of fine dust on the cars in our road ( Epsom, Surrey ) this morning.





"Wrong sort of air!"

 

[gordonthemoron]

There was a noticablity of fine dust on the cars in our road ( Epsom, Surrey ) this morning.





"Wrong sort of air!"

My bikes covered in dust, but that's from the building site next door

 

[2030720310]

The aviations equivalent of the wrong type of snow

I'm not sure if it is though, because if the ash gets into plane engines it can stall them and the plane will crash, so IMO I think its probably a good idea if planes aren;t flying into it!!

 

[jon0844]

National Geographic showed the Air Crash Investigation (although it didn't crash) about the BA flight in 1982 the day before the planes were grounded. Freaky coincidence!

I've seen it before, and they were very lucky that the composition of the ash allowed the engines to restart when they dropped down beneath the cloud. Otherwise it would have almost certainly been a water landing.

 

[37401]

Few mates in the north west said they can see some ash, maybe they know what to look for but I cant see sod all

 

[Geezertronic]

National Geographic showed the Air Crash Investigation (although it didn't crash) about the BA flight in 1982 the day before the planes were grounded. Freaky coincidence!

I've seen it before, and they were very lucky that the composition of the ash allowed the engines to restart when they dropped down beneath the cloud. Otherwise it would have almost certainly been a water landing.

I've seen that programme a couple of times before, only the skill of the pilots and a lot of luck saved the plane that day

 

[90019]

Few mates in the north west said they can see some ash, maybe they know what to look for but I cant see sod all

Sod all here. A little bit of dust in some water on the back of the car, but I think that may have been from a passing truck this morning.
Sunset last night wasn't anything special either. Had much better, and much redder ones in the past few weeks.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Maybe you need to get a little closer? !
Photos from Marco Fulle : (click on thumbnails to see larger images)


More images of the volcano here:-
http://www.swisseduc.ch/stromboli/perm/iceland/eyafallajokull_20100416-en.html


EDIT - update from NATS at 21:00 today (www.nats.co.uk) :-

Statement on Icelandic volcanic eruption: Sunday April 18, 2100

Based on the latest information from the Met Office, NATS advises that the current restrictions across UK controlled airspace due to the volcanic ash cloud will remain in place until at least 1900 (local time) on Monday 19 April.

There may currently be some limited opportunities in Shetland for flights, subject to individual co-ordination with ATC. However, anyone hoping to travel should contact their airline before travelling to the airport.

Conditions around the movement of the layers of the volcanic ash cloud over the UK remain dynamic. NATS is maintaining close dialogue with the Met Office and with the UK's safety regulator, the CAA, in respect of the international civil aviation policy we follow in applying restrictions to use of airspace. We are currently awaiting CAA guidance.

We are working closely with Government, airports and airlines, and airframe and aero engine manufacturers to get a better understanding of the effects of the ash cloud and to seek solutions.

The next update will be issued at approximately 0300 (local time).

 

[HSTfan!!!]

I can understand how a jet engine would be affected, but can it affect a turboprop?

 

[royaloak]

Yes it would clog the air filters in 5 minutes flat!

Remember its not the take-offs that hurt, only the "landings".

 

[StoneRoad]

ash can also affect turboprops - there is a turbine in there!


If you look at Volcanic ash under a powerful microscope, you will see that the surface is very rough, and as it is also hard, being sucked past turbine blades threrfore erodes said blades (aka sand / shot blasting!)

If I remember correctly the BA plane that tried to fly in an ash cloud in the 1980's had most of the paint abraded down to bare metal and the cockpit windows / landing lights were so badly etched they were opaque!

I would also expect piston engines to suffer increased wear if they are run in ash-laden air.

 

[royaloak]

If I remember correctly the BA plane that tried to fly in an ash cloud in the 1980's had most of the paint abraded down to bare metal and the cockpit windows / landing lights were so badly etched they were opaque!

Yes it did, although the film was obviously dramatised for television I believe the pictures at the end of the film were of the actual plane involved.

 

[MCR247]

UK airspace deffo closed until at leasr 1900 Monday

 

[transportphoto]

Acording to my Local Travel update there is going to be no movements in UK AirSpace until atleast 1900 tonight.

So basicly seconded what MCR247 has said - oops!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

We've just been circulated at work by our corporate travel agency that it's now 01.00 tomorrow Tuesday...

HMG are apparently talking to Spain about flying the stranded passengers there and then bringing them home via Royal Navy and requisitioned merchant navy vessels...

 

[Flywaver]

http://www.radarvirtuel.com/?lat=54.265224078605655&lng=-4.5263671875&zoom=5

This is great when its working. Only planes across the Med flying