Airports Across UK To Close?

[Lee G]

Anyone who has doubts about the effect of volcanic ash on aircraft engines should read this ... looks like they closed the airspace in time.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...-volcanic.html

And this could just be the beginning of years of disruption .....

http://www.newscientist.com/article/...fireworks.html

[Michael Cleary]

And SQ377 from Barcelona has now been cancelled (SQ378 made it in) - SMS message from my friend, they checked in at around 0800 for a scheduled 1025 departure, told to return at 0930 for an update, which was then to return at 1130 for a further update at which the advice was cancelled until tomorrow. SQ is putting them up in Hotels for the night.

[Philip Argy]

Originally Posted by Lee G

Have a thought if one of the Indonesian volcanoes was to let go in the near future ... how would that affect Australian Airspace? Would we see the same mass shutdown as Europe?

I stand to be corrected but I believe there is neglible cross-equatorial wind flow, and the proverbial doldrums prevail in countries that straddle the equator like Indonesia. On that basis I don't think Australian airspace would be affected in the way that Europe has been blanketed by the Icelandic volcanic ash.

[Lee G]

Originally Posted by Philip Argy

I believe there is neglible cross-equatorial wind flow

Philip, I'm not sure about the cross-equatorial wind flow, but I do remember when Mt Pinatubo in the Philippines blew back in the late 80's (from memory) and at that time I lived in Perth. We had the most amazing sunsets over the Indian Ocean from the volcanic ash and dust generated from the eruption.

[Philip Argy]

As I understand things, Lee, volcanic dust from the Philippines could not affect a Perth sunset, so I'd love to know how that phenomenon came about.

[Michael Cleary]

I had a call from my friend in Barcelona late last night, who told me the story of SQ378/377.

Apparently the crews normally change in Milan in both diretions, so with SQ378 having overflown Milan, there was of course no crew in Barcelona - and of course no prospect of flying the crew stranded in Milan (or aywhere else for that matter) in.

So, the crew get 24 hours to rest in Barcelona and at 0950 local time on Sunday, SQ377 departs direct to Singapore. The initial routing might be interesting due to Airspace closures.

Meanwhile, SQ has supplied all the non local passengers with accommodation in a 4 Star Hotel in the Montjuic area, all hotel meals and 10 minutes of International Phone calls. Well done SQ.

[Karl M]

Originally Posted by Philip Argy

As I understand things, Lee, volcanic dust from the Philippines could not affect a Perth sunset, so I'd love to know how that phenomenon came about.

I remember when one of the Indonesian Volcano's went off in the late 80's or early 90's we had great sunsets in Melbourne!
So there must be a reason!

[Andrew P]

Originally Posted by Philip Argy

As I understand things, Lee, volcanic dust from the Philippines could not affect a Perth sunset, so I'd love to know how that phenomenon came about.

However, it did affect those in Manila, I was stuck there for a week. Life was hard in those days

[Nathan Long]

This song is probably appropriate right now...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvuL5jyCHOw

[Anthony T]

Hi there

There are still a few flights in the UK, the Isle of Wight hovercraft is still operating.

The disruption also forced the cancellation of the inaugural Iraqi Airways flight from Baghdad to London.

This is an inaugrual flight I am happy to miss. :-)

Anthony T