Volcanic cloud forces air space closure for second day
Nasa captures the drift of the volcanic cloud from space
Friday, 16, Apr 2010 05:59
By Sarah Garrod.
A volcanic ash cloud from Iceland which has seen thousands of flights disrupted across Europe has caused UK airspace to be restricted for a second day.
The air traffic control body (Nats) has announced flights over England and Wales will continue to be restricted until 07:00 BST on Saturday, although restrictions in most of Scotland and Northern Ireland will be lifted at 19:00 BST tonight.
"The cloud of volcanic ash continues to cover much of the UK and the eruption in Iceland continues," Nats said in a statement at 08:30 BST.
The group, who have pushed the time of the re-opening of UK airspace back continually over the last 24 hours, warned this morning the situation regarding the ash cloud was "dynamic and subject to change".
The restrictions were first brought in yesterday, and saw the first time UK airspace has been completely closed - a measure that was not even taken following 9/11. Nats and the Met Office deemed the volcanic cloud a "significant safety threat to aircraft", fearing that if planes flew through the ash cloud, particles in it could damage their engines, and even cause them to fail completely.
On Wednesday hundreds of people were evacuated from the area around the Eyjafjallajokull glacier in Iceland after the volcano erupted. Volcanic activity is quite common in Iceland.
Eurocontrol - the European intergovernmental organisation for the safety of air navigation - said this morning it expects around 11,000 flights to take place today in European airspace.
In a statement, the safety group said: "On a normal day, we would expect 28,000. Yesterday, April 15th, there were 20,334 flights.
"Approximately 600 trans-Atlantic flights take place each day, 300 in each direction. Of the 300 flights that would usually arrive in Europe in the morning, today, between 100 and 120 arrived in Europe.
"Airspace is currently not available for operation of civilian aircraft in the following countries/areas: Ireland, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia, the north of France including all Paris airports, parts of Germany including Düsseldorf, Cologne, Hamburg, Berlin and the airspace around Frankfurt, parts of Poland including Warsaw airport.
"Forecasts suggest that the cloud of volcanic ash is continuing to move east and south-east and that the impact will continue for at least the next 24 hours."
The Met Office in the UK said it was "continuing to monitor the spread of the ash plume".
Forecasters said today: "Dust and smells have been detected in the Northern Isles. We are currently liaising with Health Protection Scotland and the Health Protection Agency in England. Dust has been collected at Lerwick and is currently being analysed by Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
"The current situation regarding the volcanic ash and its affects on airspace, flights and airline movement is controlled by National Air Traffic Services (Nats). As a result Nats have put in place air space restrictions.
"Our forecasters monitor volcanic eruptions as part of the Met Office's role in the global network of nine volcanic ash advisory centres. Volcanic ash can be dangerous for aircraft, causing damage, reducing visibility, and potentially clogging engines. Our environment monitoring and response centre is constantly monitoring the Iceland area."
But as well as concerns for safety, there are also worries that the air space restrictions could cause irreparable financial damage to tourism and travel. It is estimated if the restrictions go on, the airline industry could face a bill of more than £100 million.
But Howard Archer, chief UK and European economist at IHS Global Insight, said the air space controls may well boost other parts of the UK economy. He said: "Tourism will obviously be affected to some extent but just as people can't get into the UK, people can't get out. So the people stranded in the UK will have to find places to stay and eat here, so they will be spending money here rather than abroad.
"This will offset at least some of the loss of revenue to hotels and restaurants from people not being able to get here.
"The airline industry has obviously been hit significantly. But people are booking alternative travel arrangements, notably Eurostar and ferries, so these travel companies will benefit. Also many people due to travel within the UK by plane can go by train, coach or car instead."