Volcanic ash cloud

[ribbo]

The theory of 'Global Dimming"

 

so the lack of aircraft and the volcanic ash has something to do with the weather being ace over the weekend?

[thesaint sfc]

I think its all a conspiracy to get us all to vote in the election.

[Thedelldays]

Complete non-starter, this idea. The crisis would be over by the time the UK got organised.

I'm happy to stand corrected. The government has - at last - made up its mind and has redeployed Ark Royal, Ocean, and others

[bridge too far]

Well, clearly Peter Mandelson reads this forum....

 

Didn't I suggest this only a few hours ago?

 

Good ole Gord, anything for a few more votes eh! :-)

 

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20100418/tts-uk-europe-air-britain-ca02f96.html

 

Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't, eh?

[dubai_phil]

Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't, eh?

 

Notice in the press it was Cameron's suggestion :cool:

 

Nice to see the Navy being used for something useful for a change :cool:

 

Just let Eric know where to send his 10,000 refugees TDD

[Hatch]

There is a lot of talk of getting UK persons overseas back to the UK , but what about getting foreign citizens back to their home countries, is anything being done to help them?

[Weston Saint]

My friend was saying if we were America all the flights would still be happening, it's because of our picky EU laws that we're not flying. Is that true?

No. USA would not be flying in similar circumstances.

[toofarnorth]

There is a lot of talk of getting UK persons overseas back to the UK , but what about getting foreign citizens back to their home countries, is anything being done to help them?

 

I guess thats seen as being the problem of their respective governments.

[Mewsta]

So I'm currently in Hong Kong on business with a scheduled flight to the UK on Friday 23rd..... If the ban gets lifted and flights start happening.... I assume I will be OK? And that stranded people don't get on there before me?!?!

[Whitey Grandad]

So I'm currently in Hong Kong on business with a scheduled flight to the UK on Friday 23rd..... If the ban gets lifted and flights start happening.... I assume I will be OK? And that stranded people don't get on there before me?!?!

There's no way of knowing. It doesn't look like the weather will change much before the end of the week and the volcano is still spouting so the only way that aircraft will operate is if the restrictions are lifted and that would probably only be a partial lifting. After that the prioritisation of passengers wll be down to the airlines so I would expect frequent flyers, First and Business to have a better chance. There is bound to be disruption for at least a further week after full restoration, in my opinion.

[Thedelldays]

HMS Albion is picking up members of 3 Rifles who have been stranded trying to return from afghan. I presume they have flown them from Cyprus to Spain first.

[dubai_phil]

So I'm currently in Hong Kong on business with a scheduled flight to the UK on Friday 23rd..... If the ban gets lifted and flights start happening.... I assume I will be OK? And that stranded people don't get on there before me?!?!

 

If you have a normal ticket and if you make sure that you check-in on-line (As soon as it opens - like 24 hours) before your flight then you should be OK. The problems are that twhat were the empty seats on your flight get filled by newly re-booked passengers from cancelled flights. They will "overbook" those flights as some idiot always leaves his passport at home, but online check in AND get to the airport minimum of 3 hours before then you should be fine.

 

BUT if the flights stay grounded then you will be a long way down the rebook queue.

 

Oh and if you have a stand-by, airmiles or Staff ID ticket you'll be there another couple of weeks as they will bounce those. Oh if it is a Middle East airline (not Emirates) you MIGHT have to re-confirm your reservation so check online or with travel agent

[Mewsta]

If you have a normal ticket and if you make sure that you check-in on-line (As soon as it opens - like 24 hours) before your flight then you should be OK. The problems are that twhat were the empty seats on your flight get filled by newly re-booked passengers from cancelled flights. They will "overbook" those flights as some idiot always leaves his passport at home, but online check in AND get to the airport minimum of 3 hours before then you should be fine.

 

BUT if the flights stay grounded then you will be a long way down the rebook queue.

 

Oh and if you have a stand-by, airmiles or Staff ID ticket you'll be there another couple of weeks as they will bounce those. Oh if it is a Middle East airline (not Emirates) you MIGHT have to re-confirm your reservation so check online or with travel agent

 

Cheers Phil, I can check in up to 48 hours before and I will get to the airport 5 hours early if I need too!!!! My company are already on the case about alternative ways for me to get home.... i.e. the madrid thing then train it up to france etc.... We will see I suppose!!!!

[Pugwash]

Not having a clue how jet engines work (like most of the UK public I'd guess), just wondered how they differ from propeller engines. Is there any form of air intake on a prop plane that could still be affected?

 

Not quite as simple as that, though. Turbo-props (nearly all prop-driven commercial planes) also have turbine engines that operate at higher temperatures than piston-engines and are thus more susceptible to the ash-melt problem.

[Pugwash]

Just a thought for anyone returning from the US. At this time of year there's usually a lot of cruise ships re-positioning from the Caribbean to Europe. Might be worth a shout. 4-5 days transatlantic anyone?

[Viking Warrior]

Well Loagan airs turbo props plane are grounded and they only fly at low level

yet there is no ash about up here. I could understan if they were flying at high altitude but they are not

 

On a similar point are hot air ballons also banned if not maybe there is a market to fly folk across the uk. The inflight service would not be too brillian but at least you would get a window seat.

[Ponty]

On a similar point are hot air ballons also banned if not maybe there is a market to fly folk across the uk. The inflight service would not be too brillian but at least you would get a window seat.

Funny you should ask that... The skies are usually teeming with balloons when I'm on my fortnightly, Sunday afternoon drive from Hampshire to Oxfordshire but there were none about yesterday. I thought it odd, especially considering the gorgeous weather.

[benjii]

I saw ballons in the sky on Saturday.

 

Kind regards, Benjii.

[Ponty]

That answers that then.

[Whitey Grandad]

Well Loagan airs turbo props plane are grounded and they only fly at low level

yet there is no ash about up here. I could understan if they were flying at high altitude but they are not

 

On a similar point are hot air ballons also banned if not maybe there is a market to fly folk across the uk. The inflight service would not be too brillian but at least you would get a window seat.

That's what I can't understand. Even the Channel Island flights are grounded but they can go at low levels. Flybe aircraft may be turboprop but Aurigny are noisy piston buggers. They would just need lots or airfilters.

[bridge too far]

Well Loagan airs turbo props plane are grounded and they only fly at low level

yet there is no ash about up here. I could understan if they were flying at high altitude but they are not

 

On a similar point are hot air ballons also banned if not maybe there is a market to fly folk across the uk. The inflight service would not be too brillian but at least you would get a window seat.

 

Bit too hit and miss, if you were to seriously consider this.

 

Too dependent on wind direction and thermals.

 

When I went up in a balloon, the in-flight service was phenomenal. The landing wasn't too comfortable though

[dune]

Credit must be given to Gordon Brown for taking Conservative advice and sending aircraft carriers to ferry stranded Brits home.

[JonnyLove]

Credit must be given to Gordon Brown for taking Conservative advice and sending aircraft carriers to ferry stranded Brits home.

 

OMG please stop it's like a broken record with you.

[dune]

OMG please stop it's like a broken record with you.

 

:smt024

[Whitey Grandad]

Credit must be given to Gordon Brown for taking Conservative advice and sending aircraft carriers to ferry stranded Brits home.

You missed out that tongue-in-cheeky smiley thingy. What's he planning to do? Land 747s on it in mid-Atlantic and then ship them back?

[Doctoroncall]

Can't they just fit some tights around the front of each jet engine (with some elastic bands or suchlike) so that air can get sucked in but ash particles don't?

 

I once got a 'B' in O-level applied physics. Back in the day when exams were still difficult

 

I think the tights would get clogged up and would need frequent changing, the best way would be to fit a huge dyson, that way there's no need for changing!

 

But there again I only got a grade C at O level physics (Oxford EB) so may be wrong.

[ART]

Edgar Cayce predicted in the 1920's that a volcano blow in Iceland would be the start of catastophic earth changes. Next will be Vesuvius and Mount Pelé in the Caribeean followed by the west coast of America. CNN talking how right he's been.

 

Read all about it or google news Edgar Cayce

http://www.alamongordo.com/edgar_cayce_2010_prophecies_2011_predictions_2012_visions.html

[Whitey Grandad]

I think the tights would get clogged up and would need frequent changing, the best way would be to fit a huge dyson, that way there's no need for changing!

 

But there again I only got a grade C at O level physics (Oxford EB) so may be wrong.

You forgot to allow for the weight of the mains lead. It's a common mistake.

[Whitey Grandad]

Edgar Cayce predicted in the 1920's that a volcano blow in Iceland would be the start of catastophic earth changes. Next will be Vesuvius and Mount Pelé in the Caribeean followed by the west coast of America. CNN talking how right he's been.

 

Read all about it or google news Edgar Cayce

http://www.alamongordo.com/edgar_cayce_2010_prophecies_2011_predictions_2012_visions.html

Ah... Did he say what I should do about it?

[keithd]

my guess will be not long now and flights will resume...

 

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20100419/tuk-ba-jumbo-completes-atlantic-test-fli-dba1618.html

[Pancake]

Edgar Cayce predicted in the 1920's that a volcano blow in Iceland would be the start of catastophic earth changes. Next will be Vesuvius and Mount Pelé in the Caribeean followed by the west coast of America. CNN talking how right he's been.

 

Read all about it or google news Edgar Cayce

http://www.alamongordo.com/edgar_cayce_2010_prophecies_2011_predictions_2012_visions.html

 

lol-ism.

[Johnny Bognor]

Edgar Cayce predicted in the 1920's that a volcano blow in Iceland would be the start of catastophic earth changes. Next will be Vesuvius and Mount Pelé in the Caribeean followed by the west coast of America. CNN talking how right he's been.

 

Read all about it or google news Edgar Cayce

http://www.alamongordo.com/edgar_cayce_2010_prophecies_2011_predictions_2012_visions.html

 

So have Vesuvius and Mount Pele errupted yet, because until they do, he is not really right?

[Whitey Grandad]

So have Vesuvius and Mount Pele errupted yet, because until they do, he is not really right?

Vesuvius is one of the potentail super-volcanos and is 'overdue' another big one. Typically, the more smaller eruptions that occur, the less likelihood there is of a 'big' one since the magmatic pressure is relieved. The whole of the Bay of Naples was originally one giant caldera with the islands of Ischia and Capri part of its rim but that was a long time ago. 3m people live locally and will be affected by the next one but the authorities hope that they will have 2 or 3 weeks of warning and they plan to evacuate a large number of them. Yellowstone Park is another giant volcano waiting to happen and the ground there is swelling ominously. It shouldn't affect us physically but the American economy will be smothered for a very long time. Still, it might never happen...

 

 

 

 

 

...in my lifetime.

[bridge too far]

Slightly off topic, but a few years ago we had an idyliic holiday on a small island off the coast of Sicily called Lipari.

 

It's one of a group of islands in that area and one day we went on a boat trip to a neighouring island called Stromboli. It's a night time trip because the volcano on Stromboli is constantly active and it's a wonderful sight by night.

 

People live there quite happily but it does have a warning siren system if the thing looks like it's going to get out of control.

[Whitey Grandad]

Slightly off topic, but a few years ago we had an idyliic holiday on a small island off the coast of Sicily called Lipari.

 

It's one of a group of islands in that area and one day we went on a boat trip to a neighouring island called Stromboli. It's a night time trip because the volcano on Stromboli is constantly active and it's a wonderful sight by night.

 

People live there quite happily but it does have a warning siren system if the thing looks like it's going to get out of control.

There's a good film set on there called 'Il Postino' by Massimo Troisi. Look out for the girl: Maria Grazia Cucinotta.

[bridge too far]

There's a good film set on there called 'Il Postino' by Massimo Troisi. Look out for the girl: Maria Grazia Cucinotta.

 

I think that was set on Salina which is another of the group of islands (the Aeloian Islands). However, the film called 'Stromboli' was filmed on Stromboli in the 50s. It starred Roberto Rossellini and Ingrid Bergman and we did actually visit the house in the film. It is rumoured that they had an affair whilst making the film.

[Wes Tender]

There is a lot of talk of getting UK persons overseas back to the UK , but what about getting foreign citizens back to their home countries, is anything being done to help them?

 

Why would we wish to assist them to return to their own countries when they could be spending their tourist dosh over here?

[Weston Super Saint]

There is a lot of talk of getting UK persons overseas back to the UK , but what about getting foreign citizens back to their home countries, is anything being done to help them?

 

Funny you should ask, but extra housing is being put up in record time, benefits are being increased threefold, and the passport office is working round the clock to ensure these good folks get their leave to remain.

[mini_me]

According to the BBC, several parts of Europe are still open, including Southern France. It appears that Air France have re-routed a number of their flights to Toulouse, and you can currently get a one-way ticket from Hong Kong departing Tuesday for under £1000+tax.

 

It might be worth phoning Airlines serving Hong Kong and Greece, Lithuania, Portugal, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Spain, Italy, Norway, Bulgaria, Sweden, Poland and France to see if there are any cheaper options (the Hong Kong Airport website will probably have route maps).

 

A simple train ride once in Europe to Northern France, and hopefully the ferry/Eurostar options will be viable once you arrive!

 

Please let us know how you are getting on, and if I can help!

 

Missed getting the the Toulouse flight I am afraid.... it was there and then it was gone !

 

News from BA today is that my re-booked flight is 11th May ... 11th ******* May ! Oh an they are no longer paying for accommadation which I thought contravened EU law ?

 

Have been trying since 1am Uk time to get something booked in the next few days without a sniff ! (inbetween trying to keep my business afloat ha ha)

[bridge too far]

Looks like BA are hoping to schedule flights from Heathrow from tomorrow morning.

 

It seems that many European airports are going to start to operate from tomorrow.

[Thedelldays]

this whole saga makes the campaign of trying to get me to turn my light off at night a bit pointless..

 

the earth will do what it likes

[dubai_phil]

this whole saga makes the campaign of trying to get me to turn my light off at night a bit pointless..

 

the earth will do what it likes

 

Was that your Landing Light?

 

 

 

 

 

[bridge too far]

Was that your Landing Light?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nah it was his Buzz Lightyear night-light (in case he gets frightened)

 

[Whitey Grandad]

I think that was set on Salina which is another of the group of islands (the Aeloian Islands). However, the film called 'Stromboli' was filmed on Stromboli in the 50s. It starred Roberto Rossellini and Ingrid Bergman and we did actually visit the house in the film. It is rumoured that they had an affair whilst making the film.

Well they would, wouldn't they. You're quite correct, of course, it was Salina. Apparently the beach has sadly suffered from vandalism and erosion from motorboats since the film became popular. When I'm old I'd like to go and visit this and other off-the-beat places before it's too late. There' something romantic about islands (no, not this one).

[Johnny Bognor]

Vesuvius is one of the potentail super-volcanos and is 'overdue' another big one. Typically, the more smaller eruptions that occur, the less likelihood there is of a 'big' one since the magmatic pressure is relieved. The whole of the Bay of Naples was originally one giant caldera with the islands of Ischia and Capri part of its rim but that was a long time ago. 3m people live locally and will be affected by the next one but the authorities hope that they will have 2 or 3 weeks of warning and they plan to evacuate a large number of them. Yellowstone Park is another giant volcano waiting to happen and the ground there is swelling ominously. It shouldn't affect us physically but the American economy will be smothered for a very long time. Still, it might never happen...

 

 

 

 

 

...in my lifetime.

 

I know the area well, having holidayed on the Amalfi Coast on many occasions and having docked in Naples on previous occasions. Having read Plini, whilst doing Latin, I know a bit about Pompeii and am fully aware of the consequnces of the next erruption.

 

But the end of the world predictions highlighted earlier were related to a sequence of events, starting with the Icelandic Volcano, followed by Vesuvius, followed by the one in the Carribean. People are talking about a sequence of events happening which points to the end of the world. All we have so far is a volcano in Iceland, so if that is the basis of the prediction, then it was bound to come to fruition one day.

 

When Vesuvius goes (which should be within 3 months according to the prophecy), then I may start to worry, but until then, I think we'll be OK.

Edited 19 April, 2010 by Johnny Bognor

[bridge too far]

Well they would, wouldn't they. You're quite correct, of course, it was Salina. Apparently the beach has sadly suffered from vandalism and erosion from motorboats since the film became popular. When I'm old I'd like to go and visit this and other off-the-beat places before it's too late. There' something romantic about islands (no, not this one).

 

 

You don't have to be OLD to go there

 

In fact, it's probably better to be not old because, if you're going to visit all the islands, you need to be able to do a lot of walking / climbing.

 

You can wallow in mud on another island, Vulcano.

 

The islands really are beautiful, a step back in time and relatively unspoilt. We found probably the best pizza place ever in Lipari and it's the one holiday place we've been to (and we've been to many) that we'd return to.

 

The only difficulty (bringing it neatly back on topic) is that we made a conscious decision not to fly anywhere a couple of years ago. It would be a very long trip by road / ferry.

[Johnny Bognor]

Slightly off topic, but a few years ago we had an idyliic holiday on a small island off the coast of Sicily called Lipari.

 

It's one of a group of islands in that area and one day we went on a boat trip to a neighouring island called Stromboli. It's a night time trip because the volcano on Stromboli is constantly active and it's a wonderful sight by night.

 

People live there quite happily but it does have a warning siren system if the thing looks like it's going to get out of control.

 

I watched Stromboli from the safety of a cruise ship about 1 mile away. The captain stopped the ship, turned out the lights and we sat there watching it for a good 30 mins. Incredible stuff.

[dune]

You can wallow in mud on another island, Vulcano.

 

Post a pic.

[squiggly_dan]

Missed getting the the Toulouse flight I am afraid.... it was there and then it was gone !

 

News from BA today is that my re-booked flight is 11th May ... 11th ******* May ! Oh an they are no longer paying for accommadation which I thought contravened EU law ?

 

Have been trying since 1am Uk time to get something booked in the next few days without a sniff ! (inbetween trying to keep my business afloat ha ha)

 

Air New Zealand have availability (@ HK$10,000 on their HK site) on flight NR39 to LHR, and this is currently scheduled on their departures list!

 

Hopefully you are awake and can investigate, as the flight leaves in 5 hours!

 

Their reservations no in Hong Kong is 852-2862 8988.

[Made in Southampton]

By the way I've just found a wireless network. I'm in Florida at the moment and I'm stuck until at least the 28th when our flight is next scheduled. I was due to return on the 17th.

 

Anyway back to the Pool.

 

You gotta love those Volcanos.