Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Nickbat on 18 April 2010, 17:41:03
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Yes, say the airlines.
...The two airline bodies, ACI Europe and AEA, said: "The eruption of the Icelandic volcano is not an unprecedented event and the procedures applied in other parts of the world for volcanic eruptions do not appear to require the kind of restrictions that are presently being imposed in Europe."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8628323.stm
The CEO of Air Berlin told the Bild am Sonntag paper:
"We are amazed that the results of the test flights done by Lufthansa and Air Berlin have not had any bearing on the decision-making of the air safety authorities,"
"The closure of the air space happened purely because of the data of a computer simulation at the Vulcanic Ash Advisory Center in London."
Aha! Those computer simulations again. ;)
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I just hope they arrive at the right decisions based on correct facts, without commercial pressures being allowed to rule.
The line between commercial pressure and taking risks is a very fine one ;)
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BA 747 left Heathrow at 17.58 on a 3-hour test flight to Cardiff. CEO Willie Walsh on board.
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BA 747 left Heathrow at 17.58 on a 3-hour test flight to Cardiff. CEO Willie Walsh on board.
The latest of a few already undertaken:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jh7lQ-qBxQMPzPd3Iap7_s3YDBfQD9F5HVS80
;)
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Chaos rules in our social circle due to the flights situation...
My sister is stuck in Maldives for an extra week, but has to fund everything for the five of them, which is costing a fortune, even though it is a nice place to get stuck....
One friend has 2 relatives that came to stay in their tiny house, but are delayed from leaving by a week now as tomorrows flight has been put back to the following Monday.
Another friend has a sister stuck with them and a brother who cannot get over.
I understand the problem will continue when flying resumes, due to a huge backlog and of course, many planes being in the wrong location.
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It's all very well to fly a couple of flights in VFR and claim that everything is OK. I doubt many captains would be happy flying hundreds of passengers around on an ad-hoc basis like that.
The real reason everything is grounded, I suspect, is that, when the system is subject to the full load of air traffic there is simply not enough "give" in the system to allow swathes of airspace to be closed due to ash.
Aircraft are routed into and out of our airspace using a fairly rigid system of airways and controlled airspace and there is precious little flexibility available.
The cynic in me says that they are really waiting for some environmental researcher to claim to have witnessed climate change come to a halt over the last few days though. ;)
Kevin
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distinct smell of Kerosene in my back garden & just seen 2 what look like private jets leave London City Airport
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distinct smell of Kerosene in my back garden & just seen 2 what look like private jets leave London City Airport
I have an admission to make: I love the smell of Kerosene. :D :D
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distinct smell of Kerosene in my back garden & just seen 2 what look like private jets leave London City Airport
I have an admission to make: I love the smell of Kerosene. :D :D
been renovating the kitchen so beats the smell of gloss paint ;D
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I found a very thin layer of grey dust on my car this morning, and the neighbours' cars were affected, could this be volcano dust?
I remember years ago a similar thing happened with sand from the Sahara being blown over in a storm - thick red dust everywhere :-?
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BA 747 left Heathrow at 17.58 on a 3-hour test flight to Cardiff. CEO Willie Walsh on board.
:o3 hour flight to Cardiff ??-the wright brothers were quicker than that!!
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am I the only one who couldn't care less :-/
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am I the only one who couldn't care less :-/
No....... :D :D :D Will not affect me in any way whatsoever..... :)
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am I the only one who couldn't care less :-/
No....... :D :D :D Will not affect me in any way whatsoever..... :)
If its still looking dicey in a couple of months, I'll drive to Spain, must be do-able in 2 days each way easily enough...
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am I the only one who couldn't care less :-/
No....... :D :D :D Will not affect me in any way whatsoever..... :)
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it WILL.........!!!
Lots of things are brought into the UK via airfrieght, and if the situation continues, shortages will occur....
:(
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BA 747 left Heathrow at 17.58 on a 3-hour test flight to Cardiff. CEO Willie Walsh on board.
:o3 hour flight to Cardiff ??-the wright brothers were quicker than that!!
Apparently it has flown out over the Irish Sea, back down over the West Country, and maybe elsewhere, with it due to land in Cardiff some time after 2100. ;) ;)
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am I the only one who couldn't care less :-/
No....... :D :D :D Will not affect me in any way whatsoever..... :)
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it WILL.........!!!
Lots of things are brought into the UK via airfrieght, and if the situation continues, shortages will occur....
:(
..................let alone many people at risk of being laid off or even permantly losing their jobs :'( :'(
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am I the only one who couldn't care less :-/
No....... :D :D :D Will not affect me in any way whatsoever..... :)
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it WILL.........!!!
Lots of things are brought into the UK via airfrieght, and if the situation continues, shortages will occur....
:(
We'll all be living on a diet of Potatos, Cabbage & Turnips within the week. People will be hoarding Tomatos, Strawberries, & green beans, there will be a black-market in cut flowers :D
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am I the only one who couldn't care less :-/
No....... :D :D :D Will not affect me in any way whatsoever..... :)
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it WILL.........!!!
Lots of things are brought into the UK via airfrieght, and if the situation continues, shortages will occur....
:(
..................let alone many people at risk of being laid off or even permantly losing their jobs :'( :'(
Mrs Penfold works in a coffee shop at East MIdlands Airport and its totally dead there, apparently the coffee shop did takings of £70 total for yesterday.......
We are due to fly to Poland in 2 weeks, hopefully this will be over by then.......
:y
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That BA 747 approaching Cardiff right now....in ONE PIECE........
Its bloody health and safety gone mad if you ask me.......
The airlines are all but begging to be let fly again.........
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That BA 747 approaching Cardiff right now....in ONE PIECE........
Its bloody health and safety gone mad if you ask me.......
The airlines are all but begging to be let fly again.........
But they will not know about the condition of the engines until a full inspection on them is undertaken over night ;) ;)
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That BA 747 approaching Cardiff right now....in ONE PIECE........
Its bloody health and safety gone mad if you ask me.......
The airlines are all but begging to be let fly again.........
But they will not know about the condition of the engines until a full inspection on them is undertaken over night ;) ;)
lol
You watching News 24 too then Lizzie cos word for word thats what they just said on there......!!!
Looked fine to me.........
:y
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am I the only one who couldn't care less :-/
Well, I would like my wife back........... running out of clean clothes and dishes ::)
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That BA 747 approaching Cardiff right now....in ONE PIECE........
Its bloody health and safety gone mad if you ask me.......
The airlines are all but begging to be let fly again.........
But they will not know about the condition of the engines until a full inspection on them is undertaken over night ;) ;)
lol
You watching News 24 too then Lizzie cos word for word thats what they just said on there......!!!
Looked fine to me.........
:y
lol Yes I am! ;D ;D ;D ;D
The 747 certainly looked ok, but we shall see what is stuck to the turbine blades ;)
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That BA 747 approaching Cardiff right now....in ONE PIECE........
Its bloody health and safety gone mad if you ask me.......
The airlines are all but begging to be let fly again.........
But they will not know about the condition of the engines until a full inspection on them is undertaken over night ;) ;)
lol
You watching News 24 too then Lizzie cos word for word thats what they just said on there......!!!
Looked fine to me.........
:y
lol Yes I am! ;D ;D ;D ;D
The 747 certainly looked ok, but we shall see what is stuck to the turbine blades ;)
lol
;D :y
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am I the only one who couldn't care less :-/
No....... :D :D :D Will not affect me in any way whatsoever..... :)
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it WILL.........!!!
Lots of things are brought into the UK via airfrieght, and if the situation continues, shortages will occur....
:(
We have ample supplies for a while......... :y
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am I the only one who couldn't care less :-/
No....... :D :D :D Will not affect me in any way whatsoever..... :)
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it WILL.........!!!
Lots of things are brought into the UK via airfrieght, and if the situation continues, shortages will occur....
:(
We have ample supplies for a while......... :y
How are you defining "a while" though.....in a few more days news stations will start reporting no supplies are getting in of certain foods and panic buying will commence....
:y
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am I the only one who couldn't care less :-/
No....... :D :D :D Will not affect me in any way whatsoever..... :)
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it WILL.........!!!
Lots of things are brought into the UK via airfrieght, and if the situation continues, shortages will occur....
:(
We have ample supplies for a while......... :y
How are you defining "a while" though.....in a few more days news stations will start reporting no supplies are getting in of certain foods and panic buying will commence....
:y
War time spirit will get us through...... :y
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am I the only one who couldn't care less :-/
No....... :D :D :D Will not affect me in any way whatsoever..... :)
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it WILL.........!!!
Lots of things are brought into the UK via airfrieght, and if the situation continues, shortages will occur....
:(
We have ample supplies for a while......... :y
How are you defining "a while" though.....in a few more days news stations will start reporting no supplies are getting in of certain foods and panic buying will commence....
:y
War time spirit will get us through...... :y
..............yes, with the preserved WW2 aircraft helping us out as they can fly!! :D :D :D ;)
PS A Lancaster can carry a 22,000lb load as well 8-) 8-) ;)
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am I the only one who couldn't care less :-/
No....... :D :D :D Will not affect me in any way whatsoever..... :)
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it WILL.........!!!
Lots of things are brought into the UK via airfrieght, and if the situation continues, shortages will occur....
:(
We have ample supplies for a while......... :y
How are you defining "a while" though.....in a few more days news stations will start reporting no supplies are getting in of certain foods and panic buying will commence....
:y
War time spirit will get us through...... :y
..............yes, with the preserved WW2 aircraft helping us out as they can fly!! :D :D :D ;)
PS A Lancaster can carry a 22,000lb load as well 8-) 8-) ;)
Indeed, it is my understanding that 'Piston' engines are ok as long as you keep the air filters clean :-/
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am I the only one who couldn't care less :-/
Well, I would like my wife back........... running out of clean clothes and dishes ::)
just turn your boxers or Y fronts round until the back and front is messed,buy a dog to lick plates clean and become a naturist :-X :-X ;D ;D ;D
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am I the only one who couldn't care less :-/
Well, I would like my wife back........... running out of clean clothes and dishes ::)
just turn your boxers or Y fronts round until the back and front is messed,buy a dog to lick plates clean and become a naturist :-X :-X ;D ;D ;D
Oh myyyyyyyy God!! :o :o :o :o :o :o :o
That is about the worse thing I have ever seen written on the OOF!! ::) ::) ::) Typical bloke ::) ::) ::) ::) ::)
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;)
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am I the only one who couldn't care less :-/
Well, I would like my wife back........... running out of clean clothes and dishes ::)
just turn your boxers or Y fronts round until the back and front is messed,buy a dog to lick plates clean and become a naturist :-X :-X ;D ;D ;D
Oh myyyyyyyy God!! :o :o :o :o :o :o :o
That is about the worse thing I have ever seen written on the OOF!! ::) ::) ::) Typical bloke ::) ::) ::) ::) ::)
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;)
Sorry lizzie thats the clean version can't write the dirty one it would read thingy thingy thingy............. ::) ;D ;D ;D ;D
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I posted this link in the other thread .. but I believe it has some relevance to this discussion ...
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/04/16/340727/pictures-finnish-f-18-engine-check-reveals-effects-of-volcanic.html
:)
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am I the only one who couldn't care less :-/
Well, I would like my wife back........... running out of clean clothes and dishes ::)
just turn your boxers or Y fronts round until the back and front is messed,buy a dog to lick plates clean and become a naturist :-X :-X ;D ;D ;D
:-? Is that only done in extreme circumstances then ?!?
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I posted this link in the other thread .. but I believe it has some relevance to this discussion ...
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/04/16/340727/pictures-finnish-f-18-engine-check-reveals-effects-of-volcanic.html
:)
Indeed, no one disputes that volcanic ash can damage engines. The problem is that no one seems to be measuring the amount of ash over our skies now. We do have a plane that could do it, I guess, the Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurement aircraft G-LUXE (a converted BAe 146), but it's undergoing heavy maintenance. Talk about bad timing! ::)
TBH, I can see both sides of the argument. Fog, wind, snow etc. have caused more aviation casualties than ash, yet airspace is not closed in these situations. On the other hand, NATs, and others (especially in today's litigious climate) err on the side of caution.
To those who speak of commercial pressure, I don't think any of today's major airlines would risk huge lawsuits by flying in clearly dangerous conditions.
However, when all's said and done, I'm just sitting here spouting my take on all this. I have no responsibility for aircraft, aircrew or pax. There are far better qualified souls than I who are well-paid to take the decisions that need to be taken.
That's why there's a question mark on the thread title! ;)
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TBH, I can see both sides of the argument. Fog, wind, snow etc. have caused more aviation casualties than ash, yet airspace is not closed in these situations. On the other hand, NATs, and others (especially in today's litigious climate) err on the side of caution.
Fog, wind and snow are conditions that are relatively localised, predictable and detectable and don't affect aircraft at cruising altitude. This means that affected airports can be closed and flights diverted, but the safety of aircraft doesn't need to be compromised.
This ash problem is a different one entirely.
Kevin
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distinct smell of Kerosene in my back garden & just seen 2 what look like private jets leave London City Airport
I have an admission to make: I love the smell of Kerosene. :D :D
in the morning, i hope :y
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I posted this link in the other thread .. but I believe it has some relevance to this discussion ...
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/04/16/340727/pictures-finnish-f-18-engine-check-reveals-effects-of-volcanic.html
:)
Indeed, no one disputes that volcanic ash can damage engines. The problem is that no one seems to be measuring the amount of ash over our skies now. We do have a plane that could do it, I guess, the Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurement aircraft G-LUXE (a converted BAe 146), but it's undergoing heavy maintenance. Talk about bad timing! ::)
TBH, I can see both sides of the argument. Fog, wind, snow etc. have caused more aviation casualties than ash, yet airspace is not closed in these situations. On the other hand, NATs, and others (especially in today's litigious climate) err on the side of caution.
To those who speak of commercial pressure, I don't think any of today's major airlines would risk huge lawsuits by flying in clearly dangerous conditions.
However, when all's said and done, I'm just sitting here spouting my take on all this. I have no responsibility for aircraft, aircrew or pax. There are far better qualified souls than I who are well-paid to take the decisions that need to be taken.
That's why there's a question mark on the thread title! ;)
A special plane did go up the other day with all the correct measuring equipment, and the reaction from one of the crew being interviewed was that he would not like to take up a commercial aircraft into what they found ;) ;)
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Not all bad news then... ;) ;D ;D
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/7605293/Volcanic-ash-cloud-Tony-Blair-stranded-in-Israel.html
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am I the only one who couldn't care less :-/
Well, I would like my wife back........... running out of clean clothes and dishes ::)
;D ;D ;D
Father tunnie is stuck on Isle of Man, if i had known would have told him to take train this week and i could have had the exhaust flexi off :(
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Not all bad news then... ;) ;D ;D
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/7605293/Volcanic-ash-cloud-Tony-Blair-stranded-in-Israel.html
They're welcome to him. ;)
The extent of the situation can be seen here.
http://www.flightradar24.com/
Normally that's a recipe for a very cluttered browser window if you point it at the UK. Nothing.
A few flights over the med. but nothing further north.
Kevin
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am I the only one who couldn't care less :-/
Well, I would like my wife back........... running out of clean clothes and dishes ::)
;D ;D ;D
Father tunnie is stuck on Isle of Man, if i had known would have told him to take train this week and i could have had the exhaust flexi off :(
How on earth can you stuck on the isle of man ? there are lots of ferries, and my colleague just said he could swim that far ;D ;D ;D
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am I the only one who couldn't care less :-/
Well, I would like my wife back........... running out of clean clothes and dishes ::)
;D ;D ;D
Father tunnie is stuck on Isle of Man, if i had known would have told him to take train this week and i could have had the exhaust flexi off :(
Obviously it requires effort on your part, but you could always drive up and get his car, and do the work whilst the poor man is stuck away from home/family ;)
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am I the only one who couldn't care less :-/
Well, I would like my wife back........... running out of clean clothes and dishes ::)
;D ;D ;D
Father tunnie is stuck on Isle of Man, if i had known would have told him to take train this week and i could have had the exhaust flexi off :(
How on earth can you stuck on the isle of man ? there are lots of ferries, and my colleague just said he could swim that far ;D ;D ;D
Well he could get back if he really wanted to, but its cheaper to stay there for weekend ;D
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am I the only one who couldn't care less :-/
Well, I would like my wife back........... running out of clean clothes and dishes ::)
;D ;D ;D
Father tunnie is stuck on Isle of Man, if i had known would have told him to take train this week and i could have had the exhaust flexi off :(
Obviously it requires effort on your part, but you could always drive up and get his car, and do the work whilst the poor man is stuck away from home/family ;)
About to ask him that, not sure how far car park is booked / paid up for, as i could take train up, and bring it back, because he is not coming back next weekend either
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interesting how quickly we overreact to what is, in the scheme of things, a small inconvenience
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8628878.stm
for my tuppence i'll wait until pilots think its safe, until then Britannia rules the waves once again :y
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interesting how quickly we overreact to what is, in the scheme of things, a small inconvenience
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8628878.stm
for my tuppence i'll wait until pilots think its safe, until then Britannia rules the waves once again :y
They should be able to fit a few deck chairs on that. :y
Kevin
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i thought the Ark Royal had been scrapped in the 80's too? :o :o
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Interesting:
A senior Western diplomat says several NATO F-16 fighters suffered engine damage after flying through the volcanic ash cloud covering large parts of Europe.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_VOLCANO_JETS_DAMAGED?SITE=AZTUS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
:o
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What has got my goat up is the pillock on Radio 2, promoting all the chavs/thickos crying that the government should be doing more to get people home. Why, FFS >:(. People got themselves in this position, they have to get themselves out, why should the government have to bail them out >:(
Retards
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What has got my goat up is the pillock on Radio 2, promoting all the chavs/thickos crying that the government should be doing more to get people home. Why, FFS >:(. People got themselves in this position, they have to get themselves out, why should the government have to bail them out >:(
Retards
I'll second that ive never been abroad or had a passport I holiday in the uk and take the train where possible.
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Unconfirmed, but just read this:
The Met Office has advised DfT that the eruption stopped last night.
UK airspace will be progressively reopened tomorrow.
Scottish airspace will open at 0600
Midlands at 1200
Southern UK at 1800
Northern France and German airspace are likely to remain closed tomorrow.
LHR likely to open at 1900 local on the 20th April with limited slots available and full resumption from 0530 on the 21st April.
Looking better! :y
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Yep. Prognosis looking a lot better now:
(http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/aviation/vaac/data/VAG_1271676889.png)
Kevin
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I'll second that ive never been abroad or had a passport I holiday in the uk and take the train where possible.
That's some statement to make as an Omega owner :)
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Great typo in the Telegraph:
Seeking to deflect criticism that the Government had been slow to act, Gordon Brown announced that three Royal Navy ships would help return strangled British travellers from the continent.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/7607216/Iceland-volcano-air-restrictions-are-excessive-says-European-Commission.html
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Apparently, Lufthansa will fly home to FRA up to 15.000 pax from Asia, US, S. America on a temporary exemption of the flight ban.
50 wide-bodies will be used, taking off later this evening from what the German press/TV is reporting.
That'll be a sight! :o
..oh, and I bet they won't get sea-sick on the way home. ;) ;D
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i thought the Ark Royal had been scrapped in the 80's too? :o :o
just thought the same.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ark_Royal
[edit]http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/surface-fleet/aircraft-carriers/hms-ark-royal/
[/edit]
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i thought the Ark Royal had been scrapped in the 80's too? :o :o
just thought the same.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ark_Royal
[edit]http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/surface-fleet/aircraft-carriers/hms-ark-royal/
[/edit]
so it's a new one - Audacious Class, the one i remember was scrapped in 1980 :( - i think there was a tv show with Rod Stewart singing "We are sailing"on the deck of it at the time....and i think Noel Edmonds was there too...........tho i may have dreamt this............ ;D
cheers for clearing that up Skruntie :y
when do they start building the Galaxy Class ones then? :P :P
(http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m411/bannjaxx/250px-USS_Enterprise_E_First_Contac.jpg)
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Iceland volcano air restrictions are excessive, says European Commission.
Europe should reduce its volcanic ash flight ban to “several dozen kilometres” around Iceland and rethink the Met Office science behind the current no fly restrictions, said a senior European Commission official today.
.and while they're about it... ;) ;) ;D ;D
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/7607216/Iceland-volcano-air-restrictions-are-excessive-says-European-Commission.html
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Iceland volcano air restrictions are excessive, says European Commission.
Europe should reduce its volcanic ash flight ban to “several dozen kilometres” around Iceland and rethink the Met Office science behind the current no fly restrictions, said a senior European Commission official today.
.and while they're about it... ;) ;) ;D ;D
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/7607216/Iceland-volcano-air-restrictions-are-excessive-says-European-Commission.html
wait a sec - i'm confused....you're listening to the european commision now? ::)
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Iceland volcano air restrictions are excessive, says European Commission.
Europe should reduce its volcanic ash flight ban to “several dozen kilometres” around Iceland and rethink the Met Office science behind the current no fly restrictions, said a senior European Commission official today.
.and while they're about it... ;) ;) ;D ;D
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/7607216/Iceland-volcano-air-restrictions-are-excessive-says-European-Commission.html
wait a sec - i'm confused....you're listening to the european commision now? ::)
No need to be confused. No one, or entity, is right 100% of the time or wrong 100% of the time.
On this occasion, it would seem that someone in the commission has made a good point. ;)
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......I agree with Nick ;D
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......I agree with Nick ;D
Who are you ?
.....And what have you done with the real Banjax ?
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......I agree with Nick ;D
Who are you ?
.....And what have you done with the real Banjax ?
normal service will be resumed shortly......
just as soon as we discover what 'normal' is ;)
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Seems an awful lot of aircraft flying around Europe right now. Not in the UK, of course.
http://www.radarvirtuel.com/
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about 30 mins ago had a private jet fly over us (north dorset) fairly low though... why dont all aircraft follow suit? why, if the risk is at 50k feet, dont they fly at 20k?
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"Mystic Met closed Europe with computer model.
And not much data"
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/04/20/mystic_met_volcano_model/
;)
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I really don't understand this.
Take a look at this site, with the "ash cloud" apparently superimposed, then see just how many flights are operating in France, Holland, Belgium, Germany etc.
http://www.radarvirtuel.com/
Note no movements to or from UK airports - and the ban has been extended to 1.00am, which is a problem for the 14 wide-body BA aircraft inbound across the Atlantic.
http://flightaware.com/live/fleet/BAW
:o
Perhaps they will all be diverted to Spain, so Gordon's plan is not shelved.
Oops, sorry. Cynicism alert! ;)
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I think you are only saying what others are thinking in this case!!
cynics of the world unite and be counted!! :y
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about 30 mins ago had a private jet fly over us (north dorset) fairly low though... why dont all aircraft follow suit? why, if the risk is at 50k feet, dont they fly at 20k?
Apparently the "risk", whatever that is, can be at various altitudes. The modern engines on the large passenger jets at least are designed to fly at around the 30,000 feet mark, and the range of the aircraft is based on that. I heard an aviation expert state that a transatlantic liner would not be able to make it across the Atlantic unless it could fly at the designed altitude.
In addition it was stated that the skies would become dangerously over crowded if all aircraft were to fly at the lower altitudes as more would be squeezed in to a smaller air space. ;) ;)
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I heard an aviation expert state that a transatlantic liner would not be able to make it across the Atlantic unless it could fly at the designed altitude.
In addition it was stated that the skies would become dangerously over crowded if all aircraft were to fly at the lower altitudes as more would be squeezed in to a smaller air space.
Exactly. Passenger aircraft rely on flying in very thin air to get their range and performance. Whilst there might be a little flexibility in altitude, to suggest that an airliner could do a transatlantic flight without going over 20k feet (for example) is like suggesting that you could drive an Omega from London to Edinburgh on a tank of fuel - in 1st gear.
Outside what the aircraft is technically capable of, you have to consider what is economically viable for the operator, as well.
Over and above that, you have to consider the extra workload and crowding of the airspace involved in taking aircraft outside the usual operating regimes to "fly around / under / over" this ash - assuming you know where it is.
As I said before, we are talking about a system with very little "give" when it's working properly. Throw in a few, seemingly minor, complications and it grinds to a halt.
Kevin