Seriously thoughtful UK flights grounded by Icelandic volcano

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Apparently they send up aircraft to take air samples:

Good luck to whoever is going up - I hope they get back ok.

I suppose they have special planes to deal with these type of situations, like they do for flying through hurricanes.

Sun is going down, but no atmospheric display so far.

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by wodin

Harumph!

We, here in the beautiful Sandwich Islands live with it all the time, especially with interisland flights. Planes coming and going to the Big Island, where the active volcano is, have the highest cycle (one takeoff and one landing) rate of any in the world, and are continually flying through vog (volcanic fog composed of gases and ash from Kiluea).

It results in a higher maintenance schedule for the aircraft, but little in the way of safety issues. Some of the older plane’s windshields look like they’ve been sand blasted, and the paint work is shiny only on new planes.

I don’t often have the opportunity to call the Brits wimps, but this is one!

WIMPS!!! If I wasn't drinking my weak, milky tea with plenty of sugars and eating my limp egg and cress sandwiches I'd take you to task on that one.

[suecsi]

Its eerie with no planes - I live right by Heathrow - about 500 yards as the crow flies - and have landing lights at the bottom of the garden. The planes usually take off in nice weather like this across the bottom of the garden, and part of the day they are landing this way (if they approach over Central London).

I think they might be starting again soon as I can hear some engines, maybe starting to taxi out. Usually there is a constant background hum from 6.00am to 11:00pm.

If they do start I think some airlines might pick up the late fee for going after curfew - but they are only allowed a few each night. It's usually Qantas or one of the Far East flights who leave late evening anyway.

[YGG-]

My wife is stranded in Krakow! She's trying to get to Frankfurt & then take a train to Paris... either that or through Prag...

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by GeoffC

That, presumably, won't happen until the eruption itself stops ....

Or, more likely, until the wind changes direction. The eruption itself is likely to last for weeks, or even months. Apparently, the last time this volcano erupted, it lasted a year!

Fortunately, when I visit Iceland in a few weeks, I'm going by sea .

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Fortunately, when I visit Iceland in a few weeks, I'm going by sea .

Oooh, you going on a cruise?
Wish it was me - hope you have a great time.

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Or, more likely, until the wind changes direction. The eruption itself is likely to last for weeks, or even months. Apparently, the last time this volcano erupted, it lasted a year!

Fortunately, when I visit Iceland in a few weeks, I'm going by sea .

Lucky you ....

[GraceKrispy]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

We might get an interesting sunset tonight.

Originally Posted by GeoffC

There's a lot of speculation as to how long it will last - but honestly, despite 'expert' opinions it could last for weeks - months even ....

If the eruption continues, we shall have to pray for a change in the (upper-level) winds....

I showed my husband the picture in Geoffʻs post and said "look familiar?" I see a view like that whenever I drive an hour south. Makes me kind of sick. Literally. We pray for wind on a daily basis- when we get wind, someone else gets our vog, which is a blessing in and of itself. It does make for gorgeous sunsets, but the loss of healthy air is not good.

Itʻs always been an issue, well at least as long as Iʻve been here, but it got super bad when the eruption took a turn for the worse about 2 years ago. For a while, people were evacuated. There is a daily "vog index" that lets people know how bad the vog is. For a while there was a rash of people wearing face masks. Sometimes, when I come off a plane from an island hop, I can just smell it in the air and I want to leave again.

Some days I think of the things I love about this place, other times I think there is no way I want my kids growing up breathing this air. Ironically enough, the principal of our school sent us all a link showing us that our school has some of the best air quality in the US. Uh, yes, because "they" (the people who wrote the article and live somewhere else) looked at how many factories, etc, were nearby. They did not take the volcano into account.

I hope this "blows over" quickly and lives for our European friends can go back to normal!

[HarryT]

I had to look up where the "Sandwich Islands" were. We always call it "Hawaii"!

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

Oooh, you going on a cruise?
Wish it was me - hope you have a great time.

Yes. I was fortunate enough to have a nice lottery win (5 numbers right) a few months ago, which is paying for it. I never been on a cruise before, so I'm really looking forward to it.

[GraceKrispy]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I had to look up where the "Sandwich Islands" were. We always call it "Hawaii"!

Ha, I didnʻt pay enough attention to a bunch of posts before mine.

I knew Wodin had to be on this thread as he uses the Sandwich Isles in his location. I just call it Vogville, aka Hawaiʻi. Calling it the Sandwich Isles just makes me hungry. And, as you can probably tell from putting his post and mine together, I live on the big island, and I happen to live in a place on that island that has the highest concentration of vog. Lucky me!

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yes. I was fortunate enough to have a nice lottery win (5 numbers right) a few months ago, which is paying for it. I never been on a cruise before, so I'm really looking forward to it.

You jammy so-and so.

I've won the lottery for the past two weeks - for a grand total of £20.

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

You jammy so-and so.

I've won the lottery for the past two weeks - for a grand total of £20.

I've given in during 2010 ... over the years it's been more in than out - and then I look and see what some of the cash is being used for ..... likely never again ...

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by YGG-

My wife is stranded in Krakow! She's trying to get to Frankfurt & then take a train to Paris... either that or through Prag...

I hope the situation has improved for your wife YGG.
No flights in or out of England today (maybe some in Scotland and Northern Ireland).

The alternatives (trains, coaches, ferries) must be heaving with people .

[GeoffC]

the alternatives seem to be, indeed, heaving.....

i bet the train/boats and buses people have a link to an Icelandic God in order to create havoc in the air (airline share prices are down too). One way to save a bit of fuel , too.....