Flights cancelled due to volcanic ash cloud from Iceland, Eyjafjallajokull

[sn26567]

Swiss International Air Lines: Our flight operation is getting slowly back to normal: only flights to Germany, Dublin, Copenhagen, Lyon, Paris and London had to be cancelled for this morning. Please check our online timetable, in case you have a reservation for today. And go ahead with your questions, we try to answer them as soon as we can.

[sn26567]

Latest jokes:

1) When I die, I want my ashes to be spread over Iceland.
2) Someone should really teach Icelanders how to fire a barbecue correctly

[cathay belgium]

Hi,

NCB

I think CX, that Tolip and others meant to say that we all wanted accurate measurements and educated decisions based on something else than just simulations of the London Met Office.
You may have interpreted that as a "we want to fly no matter what is up there" but that is not what they meant.

Read my elder postings, I said that to, but since there was none available at that time,
I agreed / could understand that politicians decide to close down aerospace.
Just they we're proposing to still fly thinking there were better knowing because of a/some
testflights.
I said that these testflights couldn't deliver accurate data on a whole scale? Wasn't I ?

Aviation is and has always been a compromise between safety and money.

Okay,but technology and nature elements can't be compared, guess this comparision is clear to all
but complete not adequite in this issue.
Again,sometimes MAY governments taking the role of theirs and close down,prefer safety after money.
As this is a thin line here it's easy to drop a bag of sh* on the other AFTERWARDS.
There was no data available.
Again,if the unthinkable did/or gonna happen,things were different.
Again,blame then not to investigate but not to took the descision of NO-FLY.

We were on same side in the end just I could understand a politic viewpoint in disadvantage of aviation,
others couldn't so.

Seems I'm the solitary one in this case, replacing your elder status here this baby will close
his (baby)-replies on this specific issue.
I made my issue very clear I guess,
Maybe we all said the same but in different words

Your Baby-luchtzakker
CX_b(aby)

Note:
Jan olie., since I see my reply on you was censured by the moderators due off-topic
on your personal assault on me:
Moderator, sorry but I was upset !

[LAGPanoramic]

Hi,

Aviation is and has always been a compromise between safety and money.

Okay,but technology and nature elements can't be compared, guess this comparision is clear to all
but complete not adequite in this issue.
Again,sometimes MAY governments taking the role of theirs and close down,prefer safety after money.
As this is a thin line here it's easy to drop a bag of sh* on the other AFTERWARDS.
There was no data available.
Again,if the unthinkable did/or gonna happen,things were different.
Again,blame then not to investigate but not to took the descision of NO-FLY.

As stated already before in older posts, I share this opinion!

Blame them of not making real investigation with scientific test flights, but not of closing air space.

The ashes found in a MD11 at Ostend, in a Finnish F18 and Nato F16 shows that it was not always a false alarm!
And besides, on the rtbf evening news yesterday, they said that no JetAir and Thomas Cook flights landed at Bru yesterday, because these 2 companies prefered keep flying to Spain (where passengers have to continue by coach) because they don't want to take the risk of having ashes in their engines!

So if 2 airlines decide not to fly into Brussels althought they were allowed to, it's that the risks were not so "inexistant" (sorry for bad translation) as some here pretend.

Just as Cathay Belgium, I still understand why they closed the airspace, and I even support that decision!
But as I already wrote, I don't understand why governments/armies never made serious test flights from the beginning on...

[LAGPanoramic]

when did those BA planes finally left BRU? Just a few hours later, or only this morning?

[stefanel]

I must say I do not understand Ryanair's decision to resume flights only as from tomorrow morning.
What are your thoughts about it?
In the case of Charleroi, they could have started yesterday to bring passengers to Charleroi (for the planes stuck abroad) and from Charleroi (with the planes stuck there). I am very puzzled... They are losing money, so what is the reason? What Geering said on t.v. (that they are too big of an airline to progressively start they have to start all flights at once) was just nonsense!

[Propwash]

Schiphol cancels parking fees for VA Travellers

Schiphol schrapt parkeergeld (De Telegraaf)

[Skystef]

when did those BA planes finally left BRU? Just a few hours later, or only this morning?

London area reopened 20/04 from 2300LT (our local time) onwards.

Only three BA's came:
G-CIVY left 20/04 2253LT
G-VIIL left 20/04 2303LT
G-BYGC left 21/04 1225LT
CS-TFM of Biman (stuck for six days) left 21/04 1308LT.

Logs of yesterday & before can be retrieved via this link

[cathay belgium]

Hi,

I must say I do not understand Ryanair's decision to resume flights only as from tomorrow morning.
What are your thoughts about it?

My first thought was that they just want to start again after all their bad treated pax. were out
of the airportterminal before they start flying again !

But serious,these were my toughts also, WHY waiting?

Maybe the same as JAF/TC , they don't want to risk engine damage,spare parts costs al lot of money,
maintenance work in a tight low-cost model ?
Personal,Pilots,Planes grounded when other were flying again.
What's easyjet doing today,didn't checked it yet !
I'm very curious after the real reason.

Even more as I planned flying on them EIN-BGY next tuesday. Fingers crossed!

CX-B

[jan_olieslagers]

Jan olie., since I see my reply on you was censured by the moderators due off-topic
on your personal assault on me:
Moderator, sorry but I was upset !

I must admit I was rather upset myself and wish to apologise too; especially for the shouting style of my message. You did confuse me, though: your message seemed to imply that certain pilots had ACTED incorrectly through having wrong opinions. And that's what upset ME. I think I was not the only one to read your words that way. I now understand that you rather meant they held incorrect _opinions_ ; that is not impossible, but we will never know for sure. And as someone famous said: "Die Gedanken sind frei" (Thoughts are free - "free" meaning free of control in this case, not free of payment). Surely pilots are entitled to their own opinions, no less than you?
You will still oblige me by taking better care of your writing, some of your postings need decoding or unciphering rather than reading. But I am glad that at least this misunderstanding has been cleared.
Yours kindly,
Den Antwerpsen Duyvel.

NB I was going to remove my shouting too, but cannot find it anymore. Apparently some moderator already did this job for me - thank you!

[LAGPanoramic]

Hi,

I must say I do not understand Ryanair's decision to resume flights only as from tomorrow morning.
What are your thoughts about it?

My first thought was that they just want to start again after all their bad treated pax. were out
of the airportterminal before they start flying again !

But serious,these were my toughts also, WHY waiting?

Maybe the same as JAF/TC , they don't want to risk engine damage,spare parts costs al lot of money,
maintenance work in a tight low-cost model ?
Personal,Pilots,Planes grounded when other were flying again.
What's easyjet doing today,didn't checked it yet !
I'm very curious after the real reason.

Even more as I planned flying on them EIN-BGY next tuesday. Fingers crossed!

CX-B

I have following idea about it. They already announced 3 times cancelling of they flights until 2 days later (1st time on Saterday: everything cancelled up to Monday, then on Monday up to Wednesday).
I think they chose to act like this, because of the doubts about when they would be able to fly. Announcing everything is cancelled for 2 days allows you to send back home all crews instead of having them stand-by all the time (and thus having to pay them).

Or is this a bad idea?

Anyway, I hope this crisis did affect them strongly, so they will finally realise they'd better sell their seats at higher prices so they can build up more reserves...

Anyone knows how Wizzair and Easyjet handled the situation?

[airazurxtror]

Anyway, I hope this crisis did affect them strongly, so they will finally realise they'd better sell their seats at higher prices so they can build up more reserves...

To-morrow, "the dust having settled, explosive Ryanair sale" : 3 euros one way,including taxes and charges.

[FLYAIR10]

Hi,

I must say I do not understand Ryanair's decision to resume flights only as from tomorrow morning.
What are your thoughts about it?

My first thought was that they just want to start again after all their bad treated pax. were out
of the airportterminal before they start flying again !

But serious,these were my toughts also, WHY waiting?

Maybe the same as JAF/TC , they don't want to risk engine damage,spare parts costs al lot of money,
maintenance work in a tight low-cost model ?
Personal,Pilots,Planes grounded when other were flying again.
What's easyjet doing today,didn't checked it yet !
I'm very curious after the real reason.



CX-B

I heard that some (cargo)airlines did not WANT to operate the last 2 days because their insurance company was not willing to cover them in the given circumstances and the doubt which was created whether it was safe to fly or not. Maybe this insurance-issue could also have been a serious element in play for Ryanair/TC not to show up in Belgium and neighbouring countries yesterday and the day before.
Grtz.

[sn26567]

21 April 2010: Belgocontrol is operating without any restrictions for IFR as well as for VFR flights

The contaminated area has left our airspace and moved to the northwest. The SIGMET (Significant Meteorological Information) concerning volcanic ashes will be cancelled at 16.00 pm local time.

The Brussels and regional airports are all open with normal operations status.

[sn26567]

Swiss International Air Lines: Update for today: all flights are planned to operate on regular schedule, but please check our online-timetable before heading to the airport. And for passengers who want to rebook cancelled flights and live close to Zurich, Basel or Geneva: you can also go directly to our airport ticket office and they will help you in person with finding the best solution for your needs. Thanks again for your patience!

[Propwash]

Iceland closes airports for first time due to volcanic ash cloud
By the CNN Wire Staff
April 23, 2010 -- Updated 0330 GMT (1130 HKT)

(CNN) -- Iceland will close two airports on Friday for the first time, a week after ash from an Icelandic volcano forced the shutdown of airspace over much of Europe and stranded thousands of passengers around the world, the Icelandic aviation authority announced Thursday.

Full article (CNN)

As we asked for cash, not ash, Iceland will finally stick .. their own ash

[Stij]

Stij, (flying to Berlin tonight, I hope I get back in two days...)

Right, flight cancelled 30 minutes before take--off (21:00) because apparently over Germany only VFR is allowed, rebooked for 9:40 tomorrow... wish me luck... again...

Blow up the f*ck*ng volcano!!! ... Probably would make things only worse...

Best joke untill now: We said "send cash",not "send ash"!!!!

Cheers mates from Belgium,

Stij-should-have-been-drinking-Erdinger-instead-of-Leffe

So the 9:40 flight was cancelled as well at 6:33, forcing to drive to Berlin and back. I've had it with driving for this week: roundtrip to München and a round trip to Berlin.

Cheers,

Stij

[Propwash]

I've had it with driving for this week: roundtrip to München and a round trip to Berlin.

Why not getting a Pilot License yourself

[Stij]

Why not getting a Pilot License yourself

Hi Propwash,

Now you touch a sensitive subject: I have a (small) eye problem, preventing me from flying, even private aircraft (to Belgian law, in the USA it could work), otherwise I would have already a looooooooooooooong time ago!

On the other hand, arriving in a private aircraft in my business is not a good idea when you enter a price negotiation: "ha, that's the reason your products are so expensive: you can afford a private aircraft".

Cheers,

Stij

[Propwash]

Why not getting a Pilot License yourself

Hi Propwash,

Now you touch a sensitive subject: I have a (small) eye problem, preventing me from flying, even private aircraft (to Belgian law, in the USA it could work), otherwise I would have already a looooooooooooooong time ago!

On the other hand, arriving in a private aircraft in my business is not a good idea when you enter a price negotiation: "ha, that's the reason your products are so expensive: you can afford a private aircraft".

Cheers,

Stij

Stij,

Sad to hear.

I don't know if the EASA is really gonna ban permanently based (longer than 6 months) N-reg planes in Europe (2012) but the U.S. (FAA) way might 'still' be an option.

Explain your small 'medical' eye problem to one of THESE (after selecting Country Belgium) AMEs and you would know

You don't have to buy a 'private' aircraft, just hire one or join a flying group