Airlines and Airports now questioning the flight ban?

HouseHuntr

princesswoo wrote: »

Im all for flight safety etc but our government etc either dont do enough or do too much.

The decision to suspend flights has nothing whatsoever to do with the Government. They were in no part involved in ANY decision making, they take advice from the experts only.

HouseHuntr

photome wrote: »

They also said a finnish airforce jet had gone up to test and came back with engine damage!

I wouldnt want to be getting on a plane in the next few days, the ash cloud is invisible to a pilot

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/04/16/340727/pictures-finnish-f-18-engine-check-reveals-effects-of-volcanic.html

bagand96

The decision to suspend flights has nothing whatsoever to do with the Government. They were in no part involved in ANY decision making, they take advice from the experts only.

Willing to bet on that? NATS (formerly National Air Traffic Services) is responsible for UK en-route air traffic control provision under contract to the UK governmet, as it is sovereign airspace. The UK Government own 49% of NATS.

The decision was taken by NATS that due to the risk to air travel from the volcanic ash clearances into controlled airspace for public transport flights should be suspended. However, NATS can't just make this decision, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) were involved and continue to be.

So, the ATC provider (49% government owned) made a decision in co-ordination with the CAA (the government body for aviation) to take this action. Lord Adonis, the transport secretary was briefed, and has continued to be briefed by the Met Office (the government body for weather), NATS and the CAA.

You cant just close sovereign airspace on a whim with "nothing whatsoever to do with the government"

hansi

What about all those people who live near Heathrow and can't sleep because it's too quiet:D

HouseHuntr

bagand96 wrote: »

Willing to bet on that? NATS (formerly National Air Traffic Services) is responsible for UK en-route air traffic control provision under contract to the UK governmet, as it is sovereign airspace. The UK Government own 49% of NATS.

The decision was taken by NATS that due to the risk to air travel from the volcanic ash clearances into controlled airspace for public transport flights should be suspended. However, NATS can't just make this decision, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) were involved and continue to be.

So, the ATC provider (49% government owned) made a decision in co-ordination with the CAA (the government body for aviation) to take this action. Lord Adonis, the transport secretary was briefed, and has continued to be briefed by the Met Office (the government body for weather), NATS and the CAA.

You cant just close sovereign airspace on a whim with "nothing whatsoever to do with the government"

You're 100% right about NATS and it's history nearly right about ownership, the rest is absolute TOSH!

The CAA are a regulatory body only, they had NO say at all in the decision process when it was made.

The Governement were only brought into the process after the prolonged suspension of operations.

As for the closure of airspace, this is what really lets you down because if you knew anything at all about how/why/what decisions are made you'd know that UK Airspace is NOT CLOSED, it never has been. UK airspace is severely restricted to certain types of flights only (IFR), other flights can continue to operate as normal. You're just as bad as the media in what you're saying when they say that all airports are also closed, well they're not.

There has been some awfully WRONG info spouted by the media these past few days about what is happening.

bagand96

As for the closure of airspace, this is what really lets you down because if you knew anything at all about how/why/what decisions are made you'd know that UK Airspace is NOT CLOSED, it never has been.

I am more than aware of the how/why/what decision processes that were made and the only reference to closed in my post was at the bottom. I make reference to suspension of clearances into controlled airspace being suspended. Ok I said public transport flights, and not IFR but simply put I was trying to keep my post in "laymans" terms.

There was a suggestion on Saturday night that the CAA were considering closing UK airspace completely including VFRs. Thankfully it was either unfounded or they decided not too. I dont know what the thought process was behind it (if it was true), however I understand there have been a large number of infringements by VFR pilots who believed controlled airpace was gone!

I also know the airports are open, how would we have had the almost amusing (if it wasnt so serious) increase in runway incursions over the last few days if they were closed

covlass

Test flight was from Heathrow to Cardiff and no problems were recorded ok thats good but it does not tell us if it would be safe to fly to say ibiza