How weird Options

[Darren]

Outside, not a sight or sound of an airliner in the sky.

Glad I'm not off on holiday today.

[theone09]

I heard a VERY loud helicopter going over this was after the airspace closure started.

[Darren]

Funny you say that, a police helicopter just flew past.

NATS say UK airspace is closed except for emergencies.

[Berkshirelad]

I heard a VERY loud helicopter going over this was after the airspace closure started.

There has been a lot of 'wocka'* activity over the past couple of days. As military flights, they only notify NATs out of courtesy.



* Wocka = Chinook. From the distinctive sound of the rotors. Air force slang

[GoCompare]

I heard it was only civil airspace that was closed.

[JeffG]

This is the relevant NOTAM:

Q) EGXX/QAFXX/IV/NBO/E/000/999/5441N00219W999
B) FROM: 10/04/15 12:00C) TO: 10/04/15 17:59

E) A VOLCANIC ASH CLOUD, ORIGINATING IN ICELAND, IS HAVING A
MAJOR IMPACT AFFECTING UK AIRSPACE. UK AREA AFFECTED:
610000N 0100000W 610000N 0000000W 600000N 0000000W
570000N 0050000E 550000N 0050000E 503039N 0013824E
493000N 0041900W 493957N 0080000W 510000N 0080000W
522000N 0053000W 535324N 0053000W 553600N 0020800W
574700N 0015500W 604402N 0100000W 610000N 0100000W
SFC/UNL
OPR SHOULD REFER TO VA ADVISORY 20100415/0600 FOR FURTHER INFO.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH ICAO VOLCANIC ASH CONTINGENCY PLAN,
NO IFR CLEARANCE WILL BE ISSUED FOR PENETRATION OF THE FORECAST
CONTAMINATED AREA THAT LIES WITHIN UK AIRSPACE.

The relevant bit is the last sentence. IFR is Instrument Flight Rules which all commercial aircraft flying in controlled airspace have to adhere to. It doesn't apply to aircraft flying visually (VFR) outside controlled airspace (i.e. your helicopters).

If you took the trouble to plot those coordinates, you'd see they cover the whole of the UK :)

[SFC/UNL means applies from the surface up to no upper limit]

[Iommi]

And another case is closed! Well done JeffG...crickey, we're getting through some work today, eh?

[JeffG]

we're getting through some work today, eh?

If this is the usual jibe, I'm retired

[Iommi]

If this is the usual jibe, I'm retired

No, commenting on you finding definite thread closers (argument enders)! This and the deer one! 'We're getting the work done' is referring to you, and others, getting the job on this board, of putting the World to rights!

[regor]

! Helicopters flying at low levels would not encounter the ash which seems to lie at some 20000 ft, ie where jet liners like to fly. Anyway the forces of law, order and war do not have to obey pettifogging civilian rules.

But regardless, I would just like to say how wonderfully peaceful it has been today without the big metal birds.

Can we repeat the closures on a regular basis in the future, say one day in ten to be flight free?

[misc]

It was most pleasant to be able to see the stars last night without distracting aircraft spoiling the view.

[Biker1]

! Helicopters flying at low levels would not encounter the ash which seems to lie at some 20000 ft, ie where jet liners like to fly. Anyway the forces of law, order and war do not have to obey pettifogging civilian rules.

They have banned the air ambulance from flying.

[JeffG]

My brother and sister-in-law were due to fly to Cork this week. Some time ago, they went on a South Atlantic cruise, then the Chilean earthquake happened.

I'll post a warning here when they decide on their next holiday.

[Hugh Saskin]

Doesn't seem to have worried the chap in one of those radial engined jobbies (ex Communist bloc) who was performing aerobatics to his hearts content over the Retail Park about an hour ago. Perhaps he hasn't heard...

[Darren]

Anyway the forces of law, order and war do not have to obey pettifogging civilian rules.

True, but I guarentee they will obey the Laws of Physics.

The RAF have suspended flight operations except for emergencies (i.e. Search and Recuse, airpace intrusion) and then it's on a case by case basis. Given the ash distribution, highly unlikely there will be any Tu-160 bombers heading this way.

[Berkshirelad]

I heard it was only civil airspace that was closed.

Not quite. It is controlled airspace that is closed.

VFR flights are still possible. Commercial jet are required to use controlled airspaces and IFR rules; so they remain grounded.

[JeffG]

Not quite. It is controlled airspace that is closed.

Exactly. Which is what I said in post #6. And which makes a complete nonsense of BBC News reports saying that the UK is "essentially a no-fly zone".

[Strafin]

My brother and sister-in-law were due to fly to Cork this week. Some time ago, they went on a South Atlantic cruise, then the Chilean earthquake happened.

I'll post a warning here when they decide on their next holiday.

[Iommi]

Notice how clear the sky looks without the vapour trails?