The Big Volcanic Ash from Iceland Thread

Do we know where planes are? I mean in terms of any start up?

I see that VHOT had a little jolly LHR-LGW at 10.20 this morning

I see that VHOT had a little jolly LHR-LGW at 10.20 this morning

G-VHOT is stuck in SFO right now as proved by this pic....

Do we know where planes are? I mean in terms of any start up?

They will be where they landed before LHR etc was closed so some will be at LHR already with a lot still overseas at their landing airport - BOS JFK / EWR / SFO etc etc etc

Hopeflly they will be able to get planes and pax moving pretty quickly.

I think the aircraft database is pretty out of sync with where all of the aircraft have ended up.
It would be interesting to see a map of where all the VS planes are parked at the moment. I see G-VNAP and G-VWKD are continuing to run the HKG-SYD route, with quite light loads I would imagine!

I must be the only person who is pee'd off. I was due to fly back today, but over the weekend got myself moved to 3rd of May so I could attend a conference in the Bahamas. The insurance company was covering my hotel and incidentals up to $190 a night. Some holiday inn points racking up there. I owe it to humanity to let the women, kiddies and factory workers get home first I think.....

Do we know where planes are? I mean in terms of any start up?

Ok here goes:

G-VELD is in CPT
G-VFIZ is at LHR (I think)
G-VWOW is in MIA
G-VOGE is at EWR
G-VFIT is at LHR
G-VFAR is either at JFK or LHR
G-VYOU is at LHR
G-VROS looks to be at LGW
G-VLIP is at MAN
G-VGAL is at LGW
G-VHOL is at LHR
G-VBUG is at LHR
G-VWIN is at LHR
G-VFAB is at LGW (but could be wrong and be at BGI)
G-VAST is at either MCO or GLA, the times dont make it clear
G-VSHY is at MNL for maintenance (seems she was moved as soon as UK airspace was shut)
G-VAIR is at LHR
G-VWKD is at SYD
G-VROC is at LHR
G-VMEG is at LHR
G-VSEA is at MNL for maintenance
G-VROY is at LGW
G-VEIL is at LHR
G-VSUN is at LHR
G-VXLG is at LGW
G-VRED is at LHR
G-VFOX is at LHR
G-VNAP is at HKG
G-VBLU is at LHR
G-VWEB is at JNB
G-VSSH is at LHR
G-VBIG is at LHR
G-VHOT is at SFO
G-VGAS either PVG or LHR
G-VTOP is at either LHR or LGW (seems she did a test flight today)


So there we have it. According to the which aircraft section most planes are actually in the UK which is a good thing.

G-VFAR is in LHR.

Im sure i read somewhere (probably airliners.net) that theres a VS plane parked up in BGI so that could be VFAB.

G-VFAB is in BGI and there is one a/c in MCO as the VS 27 made it out before airspace closed. Is prob V-ROS as that operated the VS 28 on the wed.

All flights cancelled tomorrow, APART from JNB, EWR (17) DXB, LOS, DEL, NBO and HKG which VS hoping to operate if all goes well - then hopefully full schedule will resume from wednesday......

[Neil]

Thanks Will (and everyone for filling in the gaps). That info is interesting and gives a good insight in to the issues facing VS.

The flight programme for tomorrow is interesting due to the omissions as well as the "If UK Airspace reopens we hope to operate ..."

No incoming flights, not even from MCO where there will be great pressure.

Only a single transatlantic!

This does seem prudent - there could be a real risk of expensive engine damage.

The flight programme for tomorrow is interesting due to the omissions as well as the "If UK Airspace reopens we hope to operate ..."

No incoming flights, not even from MCO where there will be great pressure.

I've got friends due to fly on VS16 from MCO tomorrow. If there is an aircraft in MCO and UK airspace opens at 4pm BST (11am EST) would they make a late call to try and run that flight as they would still have 8 hours to prepare the aircraft etc (and others where aircraft are out of the UK)?

Given that MAN may be open by 09:00 tomorrow, I am sort of surprised that Virgin aren't planning to send the aircraft that is parked there (G-VLIP) as the VS75. Even if this aircraft ended up departing with a delay of several hours, it would get a badly needed aircraft out to one of Virgin's busiest destinations where they must have a huge backlog to clear.

Lets hope this volcano continues to calm down and things get back to normal. (Fingers crossed myself for just under 3 weeks time).

James

The flight programme for tomorrow is interesting due to the omissions as well as the "If UK Airspace reopens we hope to operate ..."

No incoming flights, not even from MCO where there will be great pressure.

I've got friends due to fly on VS16 from MCO tomorrow. If there is an aircraft in MCO and UK airspace opens at 4pm BST (11am EST) would they make a late call to try and run that flight as they would still have 8 hours to prepare the aircraft etc (and others where aircraft are out of the UK)?

From the info that Pete puts up on the site (that comes direct from VS) there appears to be no a/c in MCO at the moment....however there does appear to be some discrepancy with the information at the moment.

[quote= Virginboy 747]
English Rose at MCO
[/quote]

No G-VROS seems to have operated the ANU/BGI run on the 16th so think she is back at LGW.

I suppose it will take quite a while to return to some sort of normality. The airlines are bound to take it cautiously and logistically it must be a nightmare for them.

Just hoping and praying that this volcano settles itself down asap.

Hope everyone that's stuck gets sorted and home quickly & safely!

I've got friends due to fly on VS16 from MCO tomorrow. If there is an aircraft in MCO and UK airspace opens at 4pm BST (11am EST) would they make a late call to try and run that flight as they would still have 8 hours to prepare the aircraft etc (and others where aircraft are out of the UK)?

They could - but frankly, is it worth the risk?
I know you may wish your friends to get home but if I were making the call, I would wish to very carefully examine VS17's engines after the trip to EWR before committing any more metal.

VS are going to need every aircraft available to clear up this mess and having to send them away for major engine service is not a risk to be taken lightly.

I would have thought 1 tomorrow, a few more the next day then build up to 100% effort on Fri/Sat - IF everything goes OK.

Even if there is no obvious damage, they will still need an extensive check and precautionary oil-change.

Even though VS will be under tremendous pressure from displaced pax, I would much prefer VS to take the cautious approach - even MOL is not throwing his metal back into the air!

Let airlines who have plenty to spare take the risk and do the test flights.

i was at cargo airside at man today , didnt see G-VLIP anywhere , plenty of Thomson birds though

So - if there are no aircraft at Man & nothing due in tomorrow, there isn't much chance of me getting to MCO on VS075 on Wednesday then. Looks like Wednesday could be spent on the phone re-booking everything yet again. Oh well.

Katie

would the planes fly empty to mco , or would the plane be loaded ?

katie ,G-VLIP is down as being at man , it might be in a shed

They have just cancelled the VS20 that was due to leave San Francisco tomorrow (20th). Given UK air space will be open by the time it comes in to land and there is a plane at SFO, I have no idea.

Now at the back of the queue for returning to the UK. Awesome!

According to orlando airport website http://orlandoairports.net/

Please note that Lufthansa 465 (Frankfurt), Martinair 636 (Amsterdam) and Virgin Atlantic 72 (Glasgow) are scheduled to depart this evening (April 19).

flight VS072 to Glasgow is due to depart tonight although there is nothing on the online departure boards and the virgin website says there is no flights in or out today.

would the planes fly empty to mco , or would the plane be loaded ?

katie ,G-VLIP is down as being at man , it might be in a shed

Thanks for that bit of info. I feel slightly more hopeful though I don't want to get too excited in case we're cancelled again. We made it to check-in last Friday

Katie

According to sources in Orlando, a flight to UK is scheduled to depart tonight due to a 12 hour window to accept flights. Another guest at a nearby villa has been called to the airport. It is not certain about the departure time or destination at this time however he was originally booked on this evenings Manchester bound flight (VS76).