Useful information about volcanic ash - Volcano FAQ
Saturday 15, May 2010
Latest reports indicate that Eyjafjallajökull is continuing to erupt with the plume currently reaching around 23,000 ft (7 km). An increase in lightning activity has been detected around the volcano. The latest emissions are currently spreading westwards from Iceland, with a narrow plume of older ash still extending across northern Britain.
Who does what when there is ash in the UK's airspace?
The Met Office
Met Office forecasters monitor volcanic eruptions as part of the Met Office's role in the global network of nine Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres (VAAC). The Met Office provides forecasts every six hours giving an 18-hour prediction of where the volcanic ash cloud is and where the different levels of volcano ash lie.
The Met Office forecast is then used by the CAA to produce an aeronautical Notice to Airmen (or NOTAM) based on this information every six hours to inform industry of the location of No Fly Zones and Red Zones were ash is present but operations can continue with an increased safety regime.
NATS provides air traffic control services to aircraft flying in UK airspace, and over the eastern part of the North Atlantic. It uses the NOTAMs issued by the CAA to brief airline operators and airports on the areas that will be affected by the ash cloud.
Why is ash still disrupting flights?
The CAA led international manufacturers and regulators in developing new standards to allow flights to continue whilst flying close to, or through, the ash cloud, but when the ash level exceeds that agreed as safe by the industry airspace is restricted accordingly.
CAA is continuing to work with the aviation industry to develop further technical solutions that will increase flying when we are sure it is safe to do so and are endeavouring to ensure interruption is kept to a minimum. Scientists are tracking the ash cloud's movements constantly, as its location changes frequently depending on the strength of volcanic eruptions and prevailing winds. Any decision to restrict flights is not taken lightly and we appreciate the huge inconvenience and disruption this causes to the many people and businesses affected.
What is the risk posed by ash?
Volcanic ash is very abrasive. It wears the blades and vanes in aircraft engines, impacting the aerodynamics of the compressor and potentially leading to loss of thrust and engine stall. One of the most serious incidents affected a BA Boeing 747-200 in 1982, in Indonesia, when all four engines failed after encountering volcanic ash.
How do I find out if my flight will be affected?
The volcanic ash cloud's movements are being constantly monitored, with information fed through to airlines to alert them to potential restrictions. If you think your flight might be affected, you should contact your airline for an update before leaving for the airport.
What compensation am I entitled to?
You are covered by the European Union Denied Boarding and Cancellation Regulations. This entitles you to care and assistance including the right to:
If you are abroad and choose to be re-routed to your final destination on the next available flight, you are also entitled to:
Passengers should contact their airline or check the airline website for advice on re-organised flight details and arrangements for accommodation, meals etc. If you are unable to obtain advice from your airline, passengers may need to make their own arrangements and are advised to keep receipts of any expenses they intend to claim from their airline. These expenses should be reasonable within the context of the nature of the disruption and fall within the rights as set out above.
You are not entitled to additional financial compensation, as would be the case if the cause of the disruption were the responsibility of the airline
I was travelling with a non-European airline – am I still covered?
Passenger rights apply to all airlines if the flight was due to depart from a European airport and the disruption to your flight occurred in Europe. In addition if your flight was with a European airline your rights also cover flights from an airport outside Europe to a European airport.
If your flight is not covered by the Regulation you should check your airlines terms and conditions.
Most airlines will provide a refund or an alternative flight and some may also provide assistance during the disruption. You should also check your travel insurance as this may cover you for the cost of accommodation, meals etc.
How do I claim for expenses?
If you incurred expenses while awaiting a flight home you should contact your airline, unless your flight is part of a package holiday, in which case you should contact your tour operator.
How can I complain?
If you have a complaint about how an airline is dealing your claim, and the incident involves a UK airline, you should contact the Air Transport Users Council (AUC) www.auc.org.uk. If the incident involves an airline from another European country, you should contact the National Enforcement Body in that country – click here for a list European Commission. Passengers who are travelling as part of a package holiday should contact their tour operator.
How will this affect air travel in future?
As the UK has some of the most congested skies in the world, no fly zones may continue to disrupt UK flights until the volcano stops emitting ash or the aviation industry comes up with technical solutions to allow aircraft engines to fly safely through denser levels of volcanic ash.
The safety of passengers is our number one priority. The CAA lead international manufacturers and regulators in developing new standards to allow flights to continue whilst flying close to, or through, the ash cloud, but when the ash level exceeds that agreed as safe by the industry we have to restrict flights accordingly.
Throughout this process, the public is at the heart of all our work and our goal will be to allow as much flying as safely possible, working with all stakeholders to minimise disruption to the travelling public while keeping them safe at all times.
If you think your flight might be affected, you should contact your airline for an update before leaving for the airport.
Why did no flights happen in UK airspace for 6 days in April 2010?
Safety always comes first in aviation and the UK has one of the world's best safety records. This relies on guidelines which ensure that airlines and pilots operate consistently and safely. In the case of aircraft encountering volcanic ash the international guidance, drafted by those who have had to deal with it in the past and had multiple engine failures, is to avoid - regardless of the level of ash density.
Previously this guidance was acceptable, as flights had been able to reroute around the affected areas because the airspace was uncongested. However when the ash cloud settled over the UK, there simply wasn't room to go around it. In this case, the only way to avoid ash contamination was to stop flying, until experts could agree on a safe low level density of ash.
Why are aircraft sometimes able to fly over airspace, whilst airports are closed?
If, for example, scientific data records no ash above 20,000 ft, over-flight policies can be adopted to allow flights to transit across UK airspace, when it is safe to do so (as happened whilst UK airports were closed in April).
This means that aircraft can take off and land within airspace that is not affected by volcanic ash but have to reach 20,000ft to be able to fly over airspace that is closed. On the ground you will be able to see vapour trails from the aircraft flying at those levels.
Why are only some airports affected?
The ash cloud is moving around, affected by prevailing winds and the severity of any future volcanic eruptions. It is being constantly monitored, with the 'no fly zone' set to cover the area of greatest ash density; this can be anything from ground level upwards. The highest level of a no fly zone to date has been 35,000 feet.
What will happen if the eruptions continues or another volcano erupts?
At this stage it is very difficult to predict for how long the volcano will continue to emit ash. When Eyjafjallajökul last erupted 190 years ago it continued for just over a year.
We can't stop volcanic activity, but we are continuing to work with the aviation industry to develop further technical solutions that will increase flying when we are sure it is safe to do so and are endeavouring to ensure interruption is kept to a minimum.
Any decision to restrict flights is not taken lightly and we appreciate the huge inconvenience and disruption this causes to the many people and businesses affected.
Has this ever happened before?
The situation faced on Thursday 15th April was unprecedented – UK airspace had never been directly affected by volcanic ash and never before has such a large area of very congested airspace, as exists in Europe, been affected in this way.
Volcanoes erupt frequently, but normally only affect areas where air traffic is light. Their ash clouds are tracked by nine global Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres, who provide information to allow flights to reroute around.
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