Eyjafjallajokull Volcano

[Danny Power]

Just a few links for those who are keeping up to date with the recent seismic activity at the Eyjafjallajokull Volcano.

Ash Advisory- http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/aviation/vaac/vaacuk_vag.html

Satellite- http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/satpics/latest_IR.html

Map- http://www.skimountaineer.com/ROF/Beyond/Katla/MyrdalsjokullMap.jpg

Earthquake (Tremor) Measurements- http://hraun.vedur.is/ja/Katla2009/stodvaplott.html#googtrans/auto/en

Webcam- http://eldgos.mila.is/eyjafjallajokull-fra-thorolfsfelli/

Ash Imagery- http://oiswww.eumetsat.org/IPPS/html/MSG/RGB/ASH/FULLRESOLUTION/

Nasa Imagery- http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/iceland-volcano-plume.html

Emission Tracking Data- http://sites.google.com/site/iavceirscweb/eruptions/eyja

For anyone wishing to learn more about volcanoes- http://www.geology.sdsu.edu/how_volcanoes_work/

[brett G6URM]

any one see that documentary on discovery the other night ?? - looks if Kata blows ( and apparently there's a good chance it will ) then the disruption so far may be nothing  - having said that , i see the airlines have gotten their way about flying , usual story money more important than safety - blowed if i would be too happy flying trough ash , but then as the chances of me flying anywhere are nil , not too much of a problem 

however i would rather not have a few dozen tonnes of aircraft drop on my bonce

keep watching the sky's !! - for showers of 747's

[Danny Power]

Hey Brett,

I have now seen 3 documentaries on volcanoes in the last 10 days, 2 of which were about the Eyjafjallajokull and they both have spoke about Katla. I think they are amazing volcanoes but I wish they could just have lava flows rather than constant ash clouds lol.

Heres an awesome video from the Eyjafjallajokull eruption

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ydnLkVvfZM

I am not a big fan of the new rules to flying through the ash and I am to fly to Turkey on the 1st July.

Sean your a pilot, what do you think about it? Do you think its safe?

[Sean Benneyworth]

It's a difficult decision to call in my opinion - I've been quite fortunate in that the majority of my flying, being mostly piston stuff hasn't been too affected. If someone raised the question to me, I think my answer would be somewhere along the lines of 'don't get hopes too far up on going (due to its unpredictability), but if you do go it won't be unsafe.'

I think the safety answers are really ones that the engine manufacturers will have to bear the brunt of I'm afraid! Though of course, the airspace decision lies with NATS, and for them I think it's a difficult decision. Personally I think it's unlikely that an incident will occur due ash, but if it does then people will ask questions as to why they were flying in the first place. Seeing it from the business perspective though, you can't not fly over the summer - all airlines would go bust! This is what commercial aviation is all about - how you can take decisions to make the flying more economical without compromising safety. Such decisions are made on everyday flights - things like calculating when you can begin a glide decent to reach your destination without having to use unnecessary engine power (pretty much all decents on airliners are now 'glide' decents - with the engines idling), or not just putting full fuel in but calculating how much you need for the journey plus the mandatory reserves (and then a few extra mandatory reserves to be safe!) - using full fuel may well take the aeroplane over it's MTOM (Max Take-off Mass) and even if it doesn't the extra weight will mean you burn more anyway. A similar decision has to be made about volcanic ash. Also at the minute it's between SFC-FL200 which would insinuate that cruising above this is no problem, just climbing through it! Which I think is why the 'time zone' has now been established.

In the meantime - I wouldn't worry about showers of 747s from the skies - while they're flying I would consider it safe.

[Danny Power]

Cheers Sean.

It was kinda making me feel a little uneasy and I know airlines are all about making money, but it wouldnt be worth putting peoples lives at risk for abit of cash would it?