The Iceland Volcano - Things that are good about it

[Sock]

BBC News - The ash cloud's silver lining?

Looks like all this Ash has a silver lining.

 

[Wozza]

I have no sympathy with people who live near Heathrow and moan about the noise, given that most moved in when the airport was already there.

Perhaps it was a quiet day in airspace when they were house viewing...

 

[Dave the OAP]

someone on teh radio was suggesting this could go on for months as the volcano shows no sign of settling down.

I wonder what will happen to the airline industry if this goes on indefinately!

maybe some airline will take the chance?

It could change the way we live......the amount of food we import would be dramatically curtialed....no more "fresh" courgettes from madagascar!

 

[lighthouse]

I am probably being an ignoramus, but if the cloud of ash/dust is at the height that planes normal use to cruise, why don't they just fly lower?

 

[Taybha]

I am probably being an ignoramus, but if the cloud of ash/dust is at the height that planes normal use to cruise, why don't they just fly lower?

the engines are designed for high altitude flight e.g 30,000ft (i think) , though that makes me wonder how they manage to get up that high on said engines

 

[robinsonsgrin]

i am considering the icarus style of flight home...not too sure if i can carry my luggage too...id probably get taxed by the atmosphere equivalent of ryan feckin air!

anyone with a nice big yacht that can sail v fast to pick me up

 

[Sock]

I wouldn't like to be a passenger on the first plane that tries it...

I don't have any plans of getting on a plane until mid August, so I hope it settles by then.

 

[Djmiles]

The volcano is already starting to settle down somewhat, but the winds aren't likely to shift much this week so the situation could continue for many days.

 

[Sock]

Apparently there is a volcano next to it - a bigger one which be triggered to erupt by the one next to it.

 

[Mackenzie]

i am considering the icarus style of flight home...not too sure if i can carry my luggage too...id probably get taxed by the atmosphere equivalent of ryan feckin air!

anyone with a nice big yacht that can sail v fast to pick me up

You could try hijacking the Gozo ferry

 

[Gwylan]

I am probably being an ignoramus, but if the cloud of ash/dust is at the height that planes normal use to cruise, why don't they just fly lower?

Planes could fly lower but they would burn up fuel at about twice the rate (or fly at much lower speeds). So, either the cost of flying would go up or planes would take longer to reach a destination - or a combination of both. There's also the factor that there would be more congestion, so there'd be fewer flights.

If this goes on much longer, I bet there'll be a few airlines attempt it: probably on payment of a supplement.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Airlines are already making staff take holiday or unpaid leave, SAS are laying staff off. It's not just the airlines however, it also affects companies that service the airport, including many of the lowest paid workers like aircraft cleaners and caterers, and retail staff.

I've heard of loads today who've simply been told not to come in. If they have leave they have to take it, if not it's forces unpaid leave or making up the hours later in the year.

 

[Fungus]

Worth pointing this out, in response to a couple of posts above, BBC:

Dutch airline KLM and German airline Lufthansa have carried out test flights in their countries' airspace to see if it is safe for planes to fly.

KLM, which is inspecting test plane engines for possible damage with a view to restarting operations, said its aircraft had been able to fly at normal operating altitude of 13km (8 miles) over Dutch skies and no problems had been reported.

"We have found nothing unusual, neither during the flight, nor during the first inspection on the ground," said KLM chief executive Peter Hartman, who took part in his airline's test.