General Chat

Flight chaos as volcano ash closes UK airspace

All non-emergency flights have been grounded in the UK from noon as ash from Iceland's volcanic eruption causes travel chaos.
The disruption, which also hit Irish and north European airspace, left thousands of travellers stranded at home and abroad.
National Air Traffic Services said all flights in UK airspace were grounded from noon to 6pm at the earliest.
A Nats spokesman said: "From midday until at least 6pm, there will be no flights permitted in UK controlled airspace other than emergency situations. This has been applied in accordance with international civil aviation policy. We continue to monitor the situation with the Met Office and work closely with airline customers and adjoining countries."

Hundreds of flights across the UK were already cancelled and airports in Scotland closed indefinitely. A Heathrow spokesman said: "We strongly advise passengers intending to fly from this time (12pm) not to travel to the airport. We will provide further updates as we get more information from air traffic control provider Nats."
Rochelle Turner, head of research for Which? Holiday magazine, said: "This is yet more bad news for air passengers in a year that has already seen much disruption to flights.
"Affected passengers are being offered a choice of a full refund or transfer on to another flight. But, airlines don't have to compensate passengers for loss of any additional elements to holidays, such as accommodation and car hire.
"It may be possible to claim for these additional elements on your travel insurance, but passengers will need to check their individual policies."
Hundreds of people were evacuated from their homes in south-west Iceland after a volcanic eruption yesterday at Eyjafjalljokull, which is part of the Mount Katla range. If volcanic ash particles are ingested into a jet engine, they accumulate and clog the engines with molten glass.
Forecasters believe the ash could take a number of days to disperse. Matt Dobson, a forecaster for MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "The concern is that as well as the eruption, the jet stream passing through Iceland is passing in a south easterly direction, which will bring ash to the north of Scotland and Denmark and Norway. But it is impossible to say how much ash will come down."
_________


I just saw the tv coverage of this and thought for a mo it was a hoax, it's a bit worrying with this ash coming over the countries, don't leave your washing out.
Everyone will be cleaning their cars tomorrow!

What about this stuff falling on crops and fruit and veg etc Yukk!


Lizx

You live in the North of Scotland, Denmark and Norway then, lolol???

We may have debris this end, but I doubt any more than we get off the Saharan winds every so often... and washing everything well before eating should do the trick.

The main danger, I think, is from debris causing engines on aircraft to fail.

Love

Daff xxxx

We have had stuff blown across to Norfolk from all over the place before now and I was thinking more of the people up north with washing out.

I eat food from all over the country, not just Norfolk!

Lizx

Yes, I have just been researching wind flow patterns... to do with Chernobyl, actually, as I lived on the Dutch German border in the main pathway when it blew. Amazing where all the stuff got to altogether. So it was fresh in my mind.

My comment re where you live was to do with the washing right now... unlikely to be affected for another couple of hours where you live, or where I live either. You didn't state that you meant *oop North*!

Food grown all over the country may have dust and debris land on it... but as I said, careful washing of it should sort out that problem. I remember the same happening when Mount St Helena went off, as well..... and lots of others in various parts of the world...

I wasn't being shirty, Liz, as you seem to be implying. I was informing. As were you.

Daff

Thankfully I don't put washing out...lol

Our farm was on alert after Chenobyl as we had livestock out but we received the all clear when the wind changed direction.

I'd be more worried about radiation than volcanic ash TBH.

Sue x

Chernobyl! Now that takes me back. I used to help out at my children's primary school and once, when my daughter's class teacher had a bad day, he told me he reckoned this class were all in the womb during the Chernobyl fallout: at least that was his excuse for their behaviour!!!!!

im sure it will have mostly blown to specks by time it gets here

we will hardly notice it

there's a thread on chat where Susan with numbers has noticed a strange smell in the area where she lives.

it could have been volcano ash ;)

oh no dont tell me my conservatry smells from there,

its the dog peeing on carpet

i do mop it, and fabreze it

Well here in Norwich, our airport is closed and no helicopters going out to rigs either from here. Also the Air Ambulance is not flying unless there really is no alternative, it seems.
On tv someone was saying there was a smell of sulphur in the air, I haven't smelled anything but haven't been outside since before it got dark.
I do feel sorry for all those who are stranded and losing time from their holidays/honeymoons but better safe than sorry.

There was a bit about it on our tv news showing the way it was wafting down our side of the country.

Lizx

You are stretching the truth a bit Mac LoI

I said it smelled like cat 'litter' ;-)

Susan
x

About 15 years ago when Ruapehu erupted our son had to sweep the ash off his roof in Rotorua. I dont remember any major disruption to our airlines, but then we probably had the strong winds blowing it away from the major airports, and it was being monitored.

Huia.