Posted on 04/20/2010 2:18:24 PM PDT by blam
Mayor Of London Warns: The Ash Flight Ban Could Be INDEFINITE And We Need To Prepare For It
Gregory White
Apr. 20, 2010, 2:28 PM
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson raised the specter of an "indefinite" flight ban for the UK's capital today as he warned the country to prepare for the worst.
Johnson said that the UK needs to start thinking realistically about the longer term implications of a ban on air travel, as the risks of flight continue to remain high.
He also questioned the legitimacy of the flight ban, noting voices in the aviation industry who believe planes can safely fly in the current ash scenario.
But Johnson wants the UK to prepare for a ban anyway, noting that this instability could last for 6 to 12 months.
Flights remain grounded across parts of Europe, with London in a particularly dire situation.
[snip]
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
“How do prop planes do in volcanic ash conditions?”
Volcanic ash is extremely dangerous to aircraft of all shapes and sizes. The ash is in fact filled with small bits of rock that are extremely abrasive. As a commercial pilot I have seen photos of what volcanic ash does to aircraft engines. In turbine engines the ash will grind down the fan and compressor blades to a point in which they will not pressurize the air to the point of combustion and the engine flames out.
In reciprocating engines the air filters become clogged and remove the oxygen from the combustion chambers, halting the production of power. Not to mention that the ash will chew up propellers and degrade visibility while clogging the instruments that require an outside air source (airspeed indicator, Altimeter, VSI, and others depending on the model of aircraft). Once those instruments are inoperative flight requiring use of instruments is impossible. In effect volcanic ash is a multi-edged sword that will down aircraft.
Source(s):
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge
Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM)
Instrument Flying Handbook
“youre in key largo right?”
Sadly, no.
I am a resident of Obama’s home state.
See my about page.
Kenya?
get down here matey, no state tax, everyone speaks English, mostly republican, no traffic, lots to do and all round living.
I’ll check the profile out
I was waiting for a freeper to reply with that.
Especially if the other volcano (10X bigger) blows, like they often do together.
Let them fly gliders!!!
that was a joke.........
Hey, The Queen Mary is siting in Long Beach doing nothing.
Decommissioned, and bolted solidly to the earth. She's not going anywhere, ever again, mate.
European airline pilots warn governments about engine failures caused by ash amid pressure to get flights moving again
Pilots warn against rash decisions to allow flights through the volcanic ash cloud amid pressure to get flights started again. Photograph: Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters
European airline pilots warned governments and safety regulators today against making "rash" decisions to allow planes to fly through volcanic ash clouds amid growing pressure from airlines across Europe to create "safe flying corridors" to get flights moving again.
The pilots' intervention came as air traffic controllers dashed hopes that flights would resume from London Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted this evening by announcing that most UK airspace would remain closed until 1am tomorrow. Airlines said the restrictions, which meant only a few flights took off from airports in Scotland and northern England, were an over-reaction.
BA announced tonight it was cancelling all flights until midday tomorrow.
The UK's air safety watchdog, the Civil Aviation Authority, is holding meetings with national air traffic controllers, airline executives and Lord Adonis, the transport secretary, to discuss flying through zones with small amounts of ash. But the European Cockpit Association, told the Guardian today that any attempts to establish "safe flying corridors" through airspace where ash was present should not be rushed.
[ ... see more at link ...]
But can the ones already there leave? By boat? So they can be reunited with their numerous family members in Pakistan who can’t get the the UK now?
No, Java.
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