Volcanic ash cloud impacts LH flight operations
Apr 17, 2010, 3:06 pm
#182
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: BCT. Formerly known as attorney28
Programs: LH HON,BA GGL GfL,Hyatt LT Glob,Mrtt LT P,Hilt LT D,IC Amb,Acc P,GHA Tit,LHW Strlg,Sixt/Av/Hz D/Pres
Posts: 6,825
Apr 17, 2010, 3:10 pm
#183
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Bristol
Programs: American Airlines, Miles & Smiles, Continental OnePass
Posts: 9
Look on the bright side.
Stop looking, you are not going anywhere by air until Wednesday, Friday or next week.
If you have a room for the night, a few dollars in your pocket and the world will not end if you stay put, feel lucky.
If you have a room for the night, a few dollars in your pocket and the world will not end if you stay put, feel lucky.
Apr 17, 2010, 3:30 pm
#184
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: FRA
Programs: BA Silver, LH SEN
Posts: 508
Interesting statements in German and Dutch media by airline management of KLM, Air Berlin and Lufthansa.
- air space closure only based on a British computer model
- not a single actual measurement of particles in German air space undertaken
- repositioned aircraft from MUC to FRA checked and no problems found
- KLM to reposition aircraft from DUS to AMS Sunday morning
- after that test for any problems
- KLM: This has lasted long enough. We want to fly now.
Industry is obviously getting edgy and starts to put on pressure on regulators... Tomorrow is going to be interesting!
- air space closure only based on a British computer model
- not a single actual measurement of particles in German air space undertaken
- repositioned aircraft from MUC to FRA checked and no problems found
- KLM to reposition aircraft from DUS to AMS Sunday morning
- after that test for any problems
- KLM: This has lasted long enough. We want to fly now.
Industry is obviously getting edgy and starts to put on pressure on regulators... Tomorrow is going to be interesting!
Apr 17, 2010, 3:35 pm
#185
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Bristol
Programs: American Airlines, Miles & Smiles, Continental OnePass
Posts: 9
Dig in for the duration
LONDON, April 17 (Reuters) - Europe's air travel chaos deepened on Saturday as a huge cloud of volcanic ash spread southeast across the continent, halting more than three in four flights and stranding tens of thousands of passengers worldwide.
European aviation agency Eurocontrol said no landings or takeoffs were possible for civilian aircraft in most of northern and central Europe because of the ash spewed out by the Icelandic volcano, which was still erupting.
Many countries closed airspace until Sunday or Monday and weather experts forecast the cloud would not move far. They said the plume of ash could even become more concentrated on Tuesday and Wednesday, posing a greater threat to air travel.
The plume that floated through the upper atmosphere, where it could wreak havoc on jet engines and airframes, is costing airlines more than $200 million a day.
European aviation agency Eurocontrol said no landings or takeoffs were possible for civilian aircraft in most of northern and central Europe because of the ash spewed out by the Icelandic volcano, which was still erupting.
Many countries closed airspace until Sunday or Monday and weather experts forecast the cloud would not move far. They said the plume of ash could even become more concentrated on Tuesday and Wednesday, posing a greater threat to air travel.
The plume that floated through the upper atmosphere, where it could wreak havoc on jet engines and airframes, is costing airlines more than $200 million a day.
Apr 17, 2010, 3:49 pm
#186
Company Representative - Lufthansa Airlines
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: East Meadow, NY
Programs: Official LH Real Person
Posts: 726
First Post Updated 17:44 ET
Operational info only; rebooking policy remains the same (version 4).
Next update will be tomorrow morning.
Best,
Michelle
Next update will be tomorrow morning.
Best,
Michelle
Apr 17, 2010, 3:58 pm
#188
Company Representative - Lufthansa Airlines
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: East Meadow, NY
Programs: Official LH Real Person
Posts: 726
Interesting statements in German and Dutch media by airline management of KLM, Air Berlin and Lufthansa.
- air space closure only based on a British computer model
- not a single actual measurement of particles in German air space undertaken
- repositioned aircraft from MUC to FRA checked and no problems found
- KLM to reposition aircraft from DUS to AMS Sunday morning
- after that test for any problems
- KLM: This has lasted long enough. We want to fly now.
Industry is obviously getting edgy and starts to put on pressure on regulators... Tomorrow is going to be interesting!
- air space closure only based on a British computer model
- not a single actual measurement of particles in German air space undertaken
- repositioned aircraft from MUC to FRA checked and no problems found
- KLM to reposition aircraft from DUS to AMS Sunday morning
- after that test for any problems
- KLM: This has lasted long enough. We want to fly now.
Industry is obviously getting edgy and starts to put on pressure on regulators... Tomorrow is going to be interesting!
Apr 17, 2010, 4:31 pm
#190
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: ZRH, Switzerland
Programs: M&M, Fan of MO, Shangri-La.
Posts: 687
It will be interesting to see how other authorities handle the information provided by the Volcanic Ashes Advisory Center in London.
I'm not sure how far east Eurocontrol's authority reaches, but probably not as far as the VAAC London publishes it's cloud areas.
Russia for example is now also covered to a good extent by the cloud on Flight Level 200. Cities are not shown, but my guess is that Moscow is now also covered, yet the only cancellations I've just seen seem to be the ones to Europe.
I'm not sure how far east Eurocontrol's authority reaches, but probably not as far as the VAAC London publishes it's cloud areas.
Russia for example is now also covered to a good extent by the cloud on Flight Level 200. Cities are not shown, but my guess is that Moscow is now also covered, yet the only cancellations I've just seen seem to be the ones to Europe.
Apr 17, 2010, 4:31 pm
#191
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 533
KLM test flight
Apparently, KLM also conducted a test flight of its own Saturday night.
Here is the (Google translated) version of a Dutch article on this: http://tinyurl.com/klmtestflight
The CEO of KLM was on board the test plane!
I am beginning to think this might all just be Swine Flu II, and we could have been flying all along. "Ash Flu". Somebody order billions of vaccines, please.
Here is the (Google translated) version of a Dutch article on this: http://tinyurl.com/klmtestflight
The CEO of KLM was on board the test plane!
I am beginning to think this might all just be Swine Flu II, and we could have been flying all along. "Ash Flu". Somebody order billions of vaccines, please.
Apr 17, 2010, 4:38 pm
#192
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 533
Interesting statements in German and Dutch media by airline management of KLM, Air Berlin and Lufthansa.
- air space closure only based on a British computer model
- not a single actual measurement of particles in German air space undertaken
- repositioned aircraft from MUC to FRA checked and no problems found
- KLM to reposition aircraft from DUS to AMS Sunday morning
- after that test for any problems
- KLM: This has lasted long enough. We want to fly now.
Industry is obviously getting edgy and starts to put on pressure on regulators... Tomorrow is going to be interesting!
- air space closure only based on a British computer model
- not a single actual measurement of particles in German air space undertaken
- repositioned aircraft from MUC to FRA checked and no problems found
- KLM to reposition aircraft from DUS to AMS Sunday morning
- after that test for any problems
- KLM: This has lasted long enough. We want to fly now.
Industry is obviously getting edgy and starts to put on pressure on regulators... Tomorrow is going to be interesting!
Apr 17, 2010, 4:43 pm
#193
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 62
Apr 17, 2010, 5:14 pm
#194
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: FRA
Programs: FB Plat & DL KM, Le Club Plat, GHA Plat, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 1,591
check this out
http://www.klm.com/travel/nl_en/prep...date/index.htm
http://www.klm.com/travel/nl_en/prep...date/index.htm
KLM test flight passes off without problem
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines carried out a test flight this evening between about 19.45 and 21:00 hours CEST in Netherlands airspace using a Boeing 737-800. The flight was carried out to establish whether air quality in the atmosphere meets the requirements for safe flight. No problems were encountered during the flight.
The aircraft was transferred to a hangar on landing where it underwent a thorough inspection. The results have been reported to the Transport and Water Management Inspectorate. The Inspectorate will take the decision on whether flight operations are possible.
KLM President & CEO, Peter Hartman, said: "At first glance there is no reason to suspect that anything is amiss. We observed no irregularities either during the flight or during the initial inspection on the ground. If the results of the technical inspection confirm this impression, we are ready to start by returning seven of our aircraft to Amsterdam from Düsseldorf. We hope to receive permission as soon as possible after that to start up our operation and to transport our passengers to their destinations." KLM Executive Vice-President Operations, Ype de Haan, was also on board the flight with Peter Hartman as an observer.
The aircraft flew to 41,000 feet (altitude of approximately 13 kilometres), which is the maximum altitude for this type of aircraft. KLM expects to receive the final results of the technical inspection tomorrow morning.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines carried out a test flight this evening between about 19.45 and 21:00 hours CEST in Netherlands airspace using a Boeing 737-800. The flight was carried out to establish whether air quality in the atmosphere meets the requirements for safe flight. No problems were encountered during the flight.
The aircraft was transferred to a hangar on landing where it underwent a thorough inspection. The results have been reported to the Transport and Water Management Inspectorate. The Inspectorate will take the decision on whether flight operations are possible.
KLM President & CEO, Peter Hartman, said: "At first glance there is no reason to suspect that anything is amiss. We observed no irregularities either during the flight or during the initial inspection on the ground. If the results of the technical inspection confirm this impression, we are ready to start by returning seven of our aircraft to Amsterdam from Düsseldorf. We hope to receive permission as soon as possible after that to start up our operation and to transport our passengers to their destinations." KLM Executive Vice-President Operations, Ype de Haan, was also on board the flight with Peter Hartman as an observer.
The aircraft flew to 41,000 feet (altitude of approximately 13 kilometres), which is the maximum altitude for this type of aircraft. KLM expects to receive the final results of the technical inspection tomorrow morning.
Apr 17, 2010, 5:27 pm
#195
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 533
Another interesting article
in BILD (in German):
http://www.bild.de/BILD/news/2010/04...vorwuerfe.html
http://www.bild.de/BILD/news/2010/04...vorwuerfe.html