Cigar Ash Good, Volcanic Ash Bad!

[Simon Bolivar]

Woke up this morning to find all the Scottish airports closed & no helicopters going anywhere today.
I was due off & to be picked up in Aberdeen by my fishing/smoking buddy & spend Fri-Mon on the Isle of Bute pike , drinking beer & lots of fine cigars. Hadn't been held onboard for several yrs now, so knew I was due to get caught but had hoped all yr it wouldn't be this trip (so very nearly happended Christmas Eve).
I blame the Met office. Just before coming out this trip I attended a Met Course, where the instructor told us 'The worst weather for flying is Volcanic Ash but that's something you'll never put on your weather report in the UK, I've never recorded it in 30yrs'. I think that was just tempting the Fates too damn far. No happy here today.
Any one else having hols/ getting home to the family put on hold due to this unusal weather state?

[Boss Hog]

Looks like the almighty wanted to join Kams biggest ash comp

[tippexx]

Looks like the almighty wanted to join Kams biggest ash comp

That, or Shuck's has just bombed Iceland!

[Gordonbcb]

Looks like the whole of the UK airspace is now closed, not just Scotland.

What a pain, I've got a mate due to fly from Birmingham up to Edinburgh tomorrow for a weekend drinking session.

[El Catador]

What a pain, I've got a mate due to fly from Birmingham up to Edinburgh tomorrow for a weekend drinking session.

Nil desporandum!

Tis a pleasant enough 'drive'. Least-ways, once you get north of 'Brum' (Say around Carlisle onwards).

Hope it still goes off OK for you!

[USAFCigar]

One of my F-15's at an exercise in Leeuwarden, Netherlands flew through a portion of ash this AM. Recovered well at base, but now need to do a double engine change...Oh, joy!

[monkey66]

i have relatives stranded at Heathrow on their way back to the US. Their plain was taxiing when it was pulled back this morning. they now have no idea when they can get home. Virgin Upper Class have not answered the phone for 4 hours!

Any inside line from the USAF regarding how long this may last hours/days/weeks/months/years?

[Lee Nub]

The expert on radio 4 said the last one of these eruptions lasted for 3 years, luckily it doesn't throw up the debris. They said they will assess it again in the morning after 7am

[Pantomimehorse]

got a flight wednesday morning, Im guessing it will be cleared by then, bloody hope so anyway!

[Burner]

Aparrently these fine particles can be driven way up into the stratosphere if enough of us go outside and light up a stogie. I'm prepared to give it a go.

[peanutpete]

my brother was due to fly to Austria to see my mum today, he is now flying out on saturday, the last time he flow out was in December when his flight was cancelled due to snow (one pissed of brother) moral of this story, check with me as to when my brother is flying

[USAFCigar]

i have relatives stranded at Heathrow on their way back to the US. Their plain was taxiing when it was pulled back this morning. they now have no idea when they can get home. Virgin Upper Class have not answered the phone for 4 hours!

Any inside line from the USAF regarding how long this may last hours/days/weeks/months/years?

The current time hack from the National Aviation authorities is a review of the high altitude contitions at 0300hrs Zulu. I will be getting a phone call after this meeting to let me know if we are a go for AM launches...We are following UK guideance.

[Simon Bolivar]

Latest from the NATS site no flying tomorrow until 1300 earliest. Just heard from my mate, he's at the water & ready to start fishing first thing in the morning. He was just about to pop down the town for a curry & a few beers & felt he should share that with me
Interesting to hear there's enough dust as far South as the Netherlands to cause damage to a jet. Glad the crew made it home safe.

[monkey66]

Thanks for the info guys, please keep posting.

Molten glass coating and jet engines may not be the best combination

Bloody Iceland, first they default on their lending and now this.

[Simon Bolivar]

So no flying today either. Our back to Backs have been given a check-In for tomorrow morning but no real hope of coming out. According to the old man, Tues looks promising but he is always the optimist. The wife was suitablely sympathetic last night...not.