Flights cancelled due to volcanic ash cloud from Iceland, Eyjafjallajokull

[cnc]

even though this brings a lot of additional work its still rather calm at work right now

[EBBU]

Latest EBBU NOTAM

A732/2010
Valid from : 16/04/2010 13:37 Until : 17/04/2010 08:00 EST
Text : DUE TO SIGNIFICANT VOLCANIC ACTIVITY FROM VOLCANO EYJAFJOLL 1702-02 PSN 6337.5N01936.4W. OPERATORS ARE ADVISED TO MONITOR EB SIGMET WITH REFERENCE TO VOLCANIC ASH. AIRCRAFT OPERATORS ARE ADVISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ICAO REGULATIONS. ATC UNITS CANNOT ISSUE IFR CLEARANCES TO TRAFFIC IN AREAS AFFECTED BY OR FORECAST TO BE AFFECTED BY THE VOLCANIC ASH CLOUD. OPERATORS ARE ADVISED THAT AFFECTED AREAS ARE CLOSED FOR VFR FLIGHTS.VFR FLIGHTS OUTSIDE CONTROLLED AIRSPACE BELOW 4500FT AMSL,POLICE, SAR, HEL,EMERGENCY AND MEDICAL FLIGHTS ARE EXEMPTED.VFR FLT OPERATORS SHOULD EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION AND MUST ASSURE THEMSELVES THAT THEIR INTENDED FLT CAN BE CONDUCTED IN A SAFE MANNER BEFORE FLYING.
Lower limit: SFC Upper limit: FL245

[Homo Aeroportus]

The cloud looks the same as with the Tsernobyl disaster.

You mean it'll be blocked as the French border as well ?

[tolipanebas]

SN is now advising its passengers not to expect to travel anymore this weekend!

[euroflyer]

One picture says more than thousand words This is FRA:

source: Spiegel Online

DFS (German ATC) just announced they "expect" the biggest parts of German airspace to be closed at least all day tomorrow (Saturday), "maybe" Sunday as well.

[Airbus330lover]

And RYANAIR cancels all flights in UK + north of europ untill MONDAY 13h00

http://www.ryanair.com/en/news/ryanair- ... o-continue

[EBBU]

Latest NOTAM regarding MUAC :

A733/2010
Valid from : 16/04/2010 13:47 Until : 19/04/2010 12:00 EST
Text : DUE TO SIGNIFICANT VOLCANIC ACTIVITY FROM VOLCANO EYAFJALLAJOKULL, ICELAND, OPERATORS ARE ADVISED TO MONITOR THE RELEVANT BELGIAN, NETHERLANDS AND GERMAN SIGMETS, ASHTAMS, NOTAMS WITH REFERENCE TO VOLCANIC ASH. ACCORDING TO ICAO EUR DOC 019 (VOLCANIC ASH CONTINGENCY PLAN EUR REGION) MAASTRICHT UAC WILL NOT ISSUE CLEARANCES TO TRAFFIC PENETRATING CONTAMINATED AREAS, FLOW MEASURES WILL BE APPLIED TO THAT EXTENT.
Lower limit: FL245 Upper limit: UNL

[EBBU]

Belgian airspace is not really 'closed'. The problem is that ATCOs cannot issue clearances to IFR traffic that might take that traffic into 'contaminated' areas (or even areas that are forecast to be contaminated). And since the whole Brussels FIR is a contaminated area... No flights...
A 'zero-rate' regulation is issued for the affected controlled airspace.

(sidenote, the 'contaminated' classification (and the same procedure) is also used for airspace with nuclear (fallout) contamination.)

[luchtzak]

Belgian airspace closed till 2000 this evening

[Shanti]

This is really terrible!

[Gliderpilot]

i like this (part of the notam): VFR FLIGHTS OUTSIDE CONTROLLED AIRSPACE BELOW 4500FT AMSL,POLICE, SAR, HEL, EMERGENCY AND MEDICAL FLIGHTS ARE EXEMPTED.

[jan_olieslagers]

Well, at least EBGB Grimbergen appears to be open this morning.

[Coppelia]

It doesn't sound good for the coming days...

http://www.lesoir.be/actualite/belgique ... 764659.php

Let's hope it's just a rumor, but...

[tolipanebas]

Brussels Airlines has just cancelled all flights till monday 1200 too, citing no improvement is to be expected this weekend....

[Propwash]

Well, at least EBGB Grimbergen appears to be open this morning.

Zwartberg is open too

See webcam

[fcw]

This is worse than 911!!!
It could be the end for a couple of airlines (BMI, WIZZ, AZ, BruAir, Monarch, BA...) who are already struggling to survive.

[BrightCedars]

Our flights have been canceled as with the rest of the entire Lufthansa program. They have rebooked us on the first available options, that is in exactly a week! Not that there are many other ways to return from Lebanon in less time anyway.

I'm surprised not to see a lot more pictures by spotters craving on empty airports and full plane parking lots?!

[Depretair]

This is worse than 911!!!
It could be the end for a couple of airlines (BMI, WIZZ, AZ, BruAir, Monarch, BA...) who are already struggling to survive.

Hello,

I'm not so sure, as this is the same for all airlines.
It's not like a strike and passengers are flying with other companies.
But indeed, this ash cloud is the cherry on the cake after the long winter, the crisis, the strikes, etc etc ...

Hope the cloud will move soon.


Oli

[Mirror]

I'm surprised not to see a lot more pictures by spotters craving on empty airports and full plane parking lots?!

Actually there aren't that many planes standing in Brussels... Many belgian airplanes are stuck somewhere else.

[EBOS87]

I had to return Thursday evening from Luxor with Arkefly 767 OR494 to Schiphol. Luckily, our plane (AHQ) departed just before the closure from Amsterdam to Luxor, where it landed around 8 p.m. Arkefly opted for a diversion to the Basel Mulhouse Airport, which was still open till friday evening. We took off from Luxor aroun 11p.m., first to Hurghada. We landed yesterday morning around 6 p.m. (the flight was a bit longer because the airport only opens then...) in Basel, where 6 buses stood ready to bring the 272 (mainly flemish!) passengers back. So at noon, we were already back in Belgium. Everything was very well organised. This was a really great job by Arkefly/TUI!! They did the same thing with flights coming from the Dominican Republic.
This contrary to Thomas Cook. OO-TCO landed thursday morning in Luxor and had to take off longtime before our plane, but it's still there. Transavia/Condor brought their passengers and planes to Hurghada.
And Jetairfly diverted one plane from Egypt (I think) to Rhodos.

I think we were very lucky because the chaos to bring back all those seasonal tourists will be incredible.