[Anonymous]

[VintageKrug]

Seems a volcano in Iceland is causing problems over Scotland; airspace over Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh is currently closed.

Probably a sensible decision, this website tells the story of a flight which was afflicted by ash, must have been a terrifying experience:

“All Four Engines Have Failed”

http://www.ericmoody.com/

Should be considerable disruption to all flights as the day goes on.

[VintageKrug]

All BA Domestic flights cancelled today:

https://www.britishairways.com/travel/flightops/public/en_gb?p_faqid=4002

[Kaicat75]

All airports in the UK are now suffering from cancellations, three airports closed in Scotland.

Manchester airport spokesman has just said on the bbc that things will be reviewed at 1pm today

[Tom Otley]

From Easyjet…

Thursday 15 April 2010 05:30

Notice of disruption to UK air services on Thursday 15 April

Following the eruption of a volcano in Iceland yesterday, an ash plume has entered UK and Scandinavian air space overnight. As a result NATS have closed parts of UK air space and this is causing significant disruption to all airlines due to operate flights to / from the UK today.

easyJet passengers are advised to check the website before they leave for the airport for any disruption information.

For further information on the air developments refer to the NATS website http://www.nats.co.uk/6744/Media-Centre.html

[VintageKrug]

This looks quite serious – anyone care to postulate how long this may affect European skies and what the outlook for air travel over the next few days looks like?

[RogerVictor]

Just heard from work. All London airports will be closed to departing flights from 1200 today. The ash cloud will dissipate over the next 24 hours but there will be huge disruption over the next few days.

I’d cancel any trips and enjoy a day off if you can

[VintageKrug]

Hmm.

Can anyone post a link to one of those time-lapse satellite images of European weather from space?

[continentalclub]

Ash cloud expected to reach Paris by 15:00CET.

Interesting forecast map of dispersal here:

http://bit.ly/cDPlSc

[JonathanCohen09]

Hello Everyone,

I have just spoken to a good friend of mine who is a mid-level manager at ATC. His view was that of RogerVictor above, Namely that there will be no flights in or out of the UK for the next 24 hours but that this is undr constant review.

The length of the disruption will depend on how long the ash clouds take to disperese and that is difficult to predict because at the moment there is little or no wind to help the process along.

My friend has promised to keep me informed as best he can. I was due to fly to Tel Aviv tomorrow but have now rebooked myself in two days time as I do not see the situation improving sufficiently for me to be able to get away tomorrow am.

Best regards and safe travels,

Jonathan

[RogerVictor]

I work in ATC at Heathrow and am due in this afternoon. I will post what I find when I arrive at work as soon as I can.

Good luck if you’re down-route somewhere.

[Tom Otley]

A good time to read this wikipedia entry about British Airways Flight 9

All Four Engines Have Failed
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Airways_Flight_9

[JonathanCohen09]

Hi RogerVictor,

I thought that might be the case. I hope you have a good shift and I am sure that all of us on the forum will appreciate the information that you will be able to get for us.

Best regards,

Jonathan

[VintageKrug]

Here is the Live London Airspace radar; still a few things in the air right now; should be all quiet in about an hour’s time:

http://www.heathrowcam.net/liveradar.php

Up at the top right you can see G-EUNB the little A318 BA004 coming into land from JFK to LCY.

I don’t think UK airspace has ever before been fully closed to traffic in this way, even on 9/11?

[Gin&Tonic]

NATS and the Met office predict UK air space will be open again from 1800 today. BA pulled forward many departue times today by upto 45 minutes to beat the 1200 closure at Lhr.

I think we can assume still no internal flights until April 16 or European flights. Good luck anyone heaing for the Eurostar.

[Author]

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