The Big Volcanic Ash from Iceland Thread

I just wanted to add that Virgin allowed me to do OLCI today,at 1330, so not sure if that is a good sign or not?!

i have been told to check in unless confirmed canceled on the virgin website only

In a similar position here - glass of wine in hand hoping that my flight to Chicago (BA due to Virgin binning the route for the winter) will go ahead at 3.45pm tomorrow so that I can fly out to meet my wife for the weekend.

Quite annoyed at the people on the TV complaining about lack of information from their airlines. I think this really is a case of nobody really knowing and a genuine case of no-one to blame.

Fingers crossed!

I think olci was available till 1.30pm but when I tried for the 1.45pm, it was suspended. We'll just get over & check in tomorrow & hope for the best.

Katie

Quite annoyed at the people on the TV complaining about lack of information from their airlines. I think this really is a case of nobody really knowing and a genuine case of no-one to blame.

That's passengers for you... !

LATEST

Airspace closed until 1.oo PM tomorrow

NATS rules British Airspace to remain closed till 13.00 tomorrow

Ah not as clear cut

this from NATS website

However, flights from Northern Ireland and the Western Isles of Scotland to and from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Prestwick may be allowed in the period from 0100 (UK time) to 1300 (UK time) tomorrow subject to individual co-ordination. North Atlantic traffic to and from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Prestwick and Belfast may also be allowed in the period.

Will also review Met Office data at 02:30

Ah not as clear cut

this from NATS website

However, flights from Northern Ireland and the Western Isles of Scotland to and from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Prestwick may be allowed in the period from 0100 (UK time) to 1300 (UK time) tomorrow subject to individual co-ordination. North Atlantic traffic to and from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Prestwick and Belfast may also be allowed in the period.

Will also review Met Office data at 02:30

And here is the why:
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/aviation/vaac/data/VAG_1271354037.png

Updated graphics of the closed areas will appear here.

Manchester is almost out of it too on the graphic for noon tomorrow, so if this carries on we could see (hopefully) MAN-MCO on Saturday as normal - after all there should be a plane there as I am guessing that VS76 came in before the restrictions this morning and is just sat there.

Manchester is almost out of it too on the graphic for noon tomorrow, so if this carries on we could see (hopefully) MAN-MCO on Saturday as normal - after all there should be a plane there as I am guessing that VS76 came in before the restrictions this morning and is just sat there.

Unfortunately the 76 got diverted to LGW
They may run the MCO-LGW aircraft back to MAN though...but don't know which pax it will then take.

So there is no VS aircraft an MAN?

I guess if the airspace to MAN is open by tomorrow evening/night then VS76 can come in to land Saturday AM and turn around as VS75.

Maybe!

but don't know which pax it will then take.

I would guess those on tiers above Gold and those on fully flexible fares for either/both days will get on the flight over others.

Just because an airport is out of the zone (what map are you using MCO1025?) dosent mean any planes will be flying. It's where the ash is on the flight plan that is also important.

Planes will be out of place - VS76 for instance and crews may be becoming hours barred too. Also I can't see any airline taking off from accros the pond this way just yet - I think they will wait until thw 02:30 NATS update

I'm looking at the map posted above by Bill S.

The bottom right graphic is very close to being clear of Manchester.

VS76 takes off in the evening from MCO so they have until about 10pm UK time I would think (OK, a bit earlier realistically) to decide whether to fly it or not to bring it in for Saturday.

In the graphic, if MAN becomes clear, then the route to and from it via Ireland will be out of the ash zone - the ocean off Ireland has not been in the zone at all throughout this.

Surely there are crews in the UK who haven't flown out but sat in a and therefore are able to fly? I thought they would only be hours barred if they had actually been working?

The lucky folks on VS19 are the only Virgin passengers still airbourne! I wonder if that will land before SYD->HKG takes off.

Crispin

Arn't those maps for today or am I reading them wrong?

Yes there will be crews in the UK who won't be time barred but its possible that the crews on the inbounds might be and this could delay the inbound though obviously I hope they dont get delayed further.

the sky ticker is saying that eurocontrol is saying that 50% of US to Europe flights will be cancelled on Friday so who knows which flights will actually operate.

Looks like ops staff will be having several late and busy nights !

Another hour and we might have the whole VS fleet grounded:

volcano is still spewing, wind direction supposed to be turning back on us again beginning of next week, so the whole situation could kick off again if volcano keeps going

Arn't those maps for today or am I reading them wrong?

Yes there will be crews in the UK who won't be time barred but its possible that the crews on the inbounds might be and this could delay the inbound though obviously I hope they dont get delayed further.

I am reading them the same as you Tonty - but I am no expert in this field WHat I am certain is that this will take days to clear as, as a nation, we are very bad managing a crisis.

Well, I was due to fly to Faro today from Blackpool (how many people just collapsed at the fact Blackpool has an airport? ), was due out 07:20am but the flight was cancelled at 07:50am.

I didn't. I was brought up within sight of it and my dad worked in the aircraft factory alongside it

I remember when it was called Squires Gate....I flew out of there once with my dad at the controls of a light aircraft...thought I was doomed. "What's that sound?" "That's the stall alarm" "Oh".

According to NATS: "very unlikely that the situation over England will improve in the foreseeable future"

Well, until May 6th anyway :w

Back on topic, despite it taking 7.5 hours I got back from EDI this afternoon. I went to STN to collect my car thinking it would be deserted, but (d'oh!) of course it wasn't. A lot of people going nowhere.

At least EZY are offering refunds or rebooking..

So there is no VS aircraft an MAN?

I guess if the airspace to MAN is open by tomorrow evening/night then VS76 can come in to land Saturday AM and turn around as VS75.

Maybe!

Virgin Orlando Information

Flights VS076 and VS016 are both cancelled from Orlando tonight (Hence being stuck until 22nd April)
I would expect that the VS028 will also be cancelled with the latest information from NATS

[honey lamb]

WHat I am certain is that this will take days to clear as, as a nation, we are very bad managing a crisis.

Do you think it will? So many flights were grounded very early on in the day so they were in the place they should be. Even the one flight that left Cork this morning was able to make it back before the airport closed.

Or perhaps I am being very naive and blonde

[Darren Wheeler]

Perhaps it's a good opportunity to do all those little jobs that keep getting put off until the next check? Proper cleaning etc?

Not going to get a chance like this for a while.