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Author Topic: Volcano stops flights  (Read 193670 times)

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Runway 31

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Re: Volcano stops flights
« Reply #225 on: April 19, 2010, 09:24:07 AM »
Can someone please tell me, if German airspace is closed, how is there a Tuifly Nordic 737 flying over it at FL410 at this time?.  Its either closed or its not.

DaveReid

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Re: Volcano stops flights
« Reply #226 on: April 19, 2010, 09:32:23 AM »
Can someone please tell me, if German airspace is closed, how is there a Tuifly Nordic 737 flying over it at FL410 at this time?.  Its either closed or its not.

ANS providers (Eurocontrol, NATS, etc) cannot "close" airspace (that can only be done by the governments concerned). 

The situation is that the ANSPs have stated that they will not provide an ATS service in controlled airspace, which effectively means that commercial flights are not feasible because separation cannot be guaranteed.  That doesn't stop individual airlines taking the initiative themselves, as we are now seeing.
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DaveReid

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Re: Volcano stops flights
« Reply #227 on: April 19, 2010, 09:41:40 AM »
Here is the view of IATA (the airlines' trade association) on the way the issue has been handled by governments:

Re-Think of Volcano Measures
Governments Must Base Decisions on Fact Not Theory

Paris - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) sharply criticized European governments for their lack of leadership in handling airspace restrictions in light of the Icelandic volcano eruption and urged a re-think of the decision-making process.

“We are far enough into this crisis to express our dissatisfaction on how governments have managed it - with no risk assessment, no consultation, no coordination, and no leadership. This crisis is costing airlines at least $200 million a day in lost revenues and the European economy is suffering billions of dollars in lost business. In the face of such dire economic consequences, it is incredible that Europe’s transport ministers have taken five days to organize a teleconference,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

“Governments must place greater urgency and focus on how and when we can safely re-open Europe’s skies. This means decisions based on risk-management, facts and utilizing operational procedures that maintain safety,” said Bisignani.

IATA criticized Europe’s unique methodology of closing airspace based on theoretical modeling of the ash cloud. “This means that governments have not taken their responsibility to make clear decisions based on facts. Instead, it has been the air navigation service providers who announced that they would not provide service. And these decisions have been taken without adequately consulting the airlines. This is not an acceptable system particularly when the consequences for safety and the economy are so large,” said Bisignani.

“Safety is our top priority. Airlines will not fly if it is not safe. I have consulted our member airlines that normally operate in the affected airspace. They report missed opportunities to fly safely. The European system results in blanket closures of airspace. I challenge governments to agree on ways to flexibly re-open airspace. Risk assessments should be able to help us re-open certain corridors, if not entire airspaces,” said Bisignani.

To assist governments in assessing risk, airlines have conducted successful test flights in several European countries. The results have not shown any irregularities or safety issues. Airlines are also exploring various operational measures to maintain safe operations. These include day flights, restrictions to specific flight corridors, special climb and descent procedures, and more frequent detailed boroscopic engine inspections to detect damage.

The scale of airspace closures currently seen in Europe is unprecedented. “We have seen volcanic activity in many parts of the world but rarely has it resulted in airspace closures - and never at this scale. When Mount St. Helens erupted in the US in 1980, we did not see large scale disruptions, because the decisions to open or close airspace were risk managed with no compromise on safety,” said Bisignani, who urged Eurocontrol to establish a volcano contingency centre capable of making coordinated decisions.

Bisignani called for an urgent meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the specialized agency of the UN, to define government responsibility for the decisions to open or close airspace in a coordinated and effective way based on real data and special operating procedures.

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springbok

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Re: Volcano stops flights
« Reply #228 on: April 19, 2010, 10:20:20 AM »
this is t
Radarbox crashed repeatedly before I could take a screenshot, but can anyone else confirm that Air France's A380 is currently en-route to Paris from Johannesburg?
F-HPJA on flight AFR995 - huge diversion?
Chris
this was the flight that arrived on Thursday in Johannesburg... they departed last night for Toulouse....

Frank

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Re: Volcano stops flights
« Reply #229 on: April 19, 2010, 11:18:19 AM »
Here is the view of IATA (the airlines' trade association) on the way the issue has been handled by governments:



Thanks for the info, regards Frank

Tailwinds

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Re: Volcano stops flights
« Reply #230 on: April 19, 2010, 11:30:46 AM »
It's being reported that several NATO F16 fighter jets have suffered engine damage to volcanic ash!
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bratters

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Re: Volcano stops flights
« Reply #231 on: April 19, 2010, 11:37:43 AM »
It's being reported that several NATO F16 fighter jets have suffered engine damage to volcanic ash!

By whom?

Tailwinds

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Re: Volcano stops flights
« Reply #232 on: April 19, 2010, 11:45:42 AM »
By AFP according to the BBC.
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pjm

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bratters

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Re: Volcano stops flights
« Reply #234 on: April 19, 2010, 11:52:24 AM »
Thanks Tailwinds.

I guess we need confirmation from official sources plus some substantial facts before making any judgement. Where were they? What height? How much and what sort of damage etc.etc.

However on the face of it, it doesn't sound good.

Tailwinds

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Re: Volcano stops flights
« Reply #235 on: April 19, 2010, 11:54:29 AM »
NATO: F-16 fighters damaged by volcanic ash Eds: APNewsNow.

The official declined to provide more details on the military flights, except to say that glasslike deposits were found inside the planes' engines after they patroled over European airspace.


http://www.kxnet.com/getArticle.asp?ArticleId=557678
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54901 - Jim

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Re: Volcano stops flights
« Reply #236 on: April 19, 2010, 12:25:52 PM »
KOSH - Oshkosh, Wisconsin USA

Andy Frost

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Re: Volcano stops flights
« Reply #237 on: April 19, 2010, 12:30:36 PM »
Here is an update to my report above (this issued at 11:57:52 BST). Only changes shown.

Bosnia: Airports opened.
Croatia: Airspace opened.
Czeck Republic: Airspace opened.
Denmark: Airspace closed until 0100BST Tuesday.
Estonia: Airspace closed but flights over country permitted.
Finland: At least three airports (including Helsinki) opened for a few hours on Monday, otherwise airspace is closed.
France: Airports in the north closed until 0700BST Tuesday, some are open in the south.
Germany: Airspace closed until 0100BST Tuesday.
Hungary: Airspace opened.
Italy: Airspace in northern Italy closed until 0700BST Tuesday.
Poland: Airports shut, flights over the country permitted at more than 6400m altitude.
Romania: Ten airports open during Monday (including Bucharest), flights over the country permitted.
Slovakia: Parts of airspace open, flights over country permitted in the rest. Bratislava airport closed.
Slovenia: Airspace opened.
Sweden: Airspace open to the north and west of a line between Stockholm and Gothenbourg. South of this line transitting flights permitted at high altitude.
Switzerland: All flights to and from the country stopped until 0700BST on Tuesday. Transitting flights permitted at more than 6400m.
Ukraine: Kiev airport open.


Roland28

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Re: Volcano stops flights
« Reply #238 on: April 19, 2010, 02:47:32 PM »
UK airspace to reopen in stages tomorrow 20/4.

Statement on Icelandic volcanic eruption: Monday April 19, 1530
The volcanic eruption has reduced and the volcano is not currently emitting ash to altitudes that will affect the UK. Assuming there are no further significant ash emissions we are now looking at a continuously improving situation.

Based on the latest information from the Met Office, NATS advises that the restrictions currently in place across UK controlled airspace will remain in place until 0700 (local time) tomorrow, Tuesday.

From 0700 (local time) tomorrow, Tuesday, Scottish airspace will be open, and south to a line between Teesside and Blackpool. Mainland Scottish airports will be open.

This is a dynamic and changing situation and is therefore difficult to forecast beyond 0700 local; however, the latest Met Office advice is that the contaminated area will continue to move south with the possibility that restrictions to airspace above England and Wales, including the London area, may be lifted later tomorrow (Tuesday).

We will continue to monitor Met Office information and review our arrangements in line with that. We will advise further arrangements at approximately 2100 (local time), today.

It is now for airports and airlines to decide how best to utilise this opportunity. Passengers should contact their airlines to find out how this will affect their travel plans.


http://www.nats.co.uk/
« Last Edit: April 19, 2010, 03:18:08 PM by Roland28 »

bratters

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Re: Volcano stops flights
« Reply #239 on: April 19, 2010, 02:59:27 PM »
Sky News are reporting that UK airspace to reopen in stages tomorrow 20/4.

Boy - that's a change of tone since lunchtime. Gordon must be getting even more worried about his election chances. :}