We're All Going To Die

[sidewinder]

Personally, if I had a flight out in the next few days, I wouldnt be flying...just not worth it to me

[localzuk]

Put it this way - if it is 10% risk, I saw a figure of around 60,000 flights cancelled in total over this grounding. Now, if the average passenger count on each is, say, 100 (there are more small planes than large), that's about 6million people. You'd've been ok with 600k people being put at risk?

[tech_guy]

When a plane crashes they'll just say it was the wrong type of ash.

[jamesb]

Put it this way - if it is 10% risk, I saw a figure of around 60,000 flights cancelled in total over this grounding. Now, if the average passenger count on each is, say, 100 (there are more small planes than large), that's about 6million people. You'd've been ok with 600k people being put at risk?

 

Even on a 1% risk, that's still 60 k people. That's enough to depopulate a small town.

 

Regardless though, in a case like this the benefits should outweigh the risks. Convenience never outweighs death. A bigger issue would be things like medical transports or aid shipments by air, where lives may depend on the flight. Those are the only ones that I can think of which would be potentially justified.

[Joh619]

I'd personally be just as worried about the long term damage to the engines etc. Even if they do make it through this time, surely all the damage, however small, is going to reduce the lifespan of the engines?

[tmcd35]

Really stupid question of the day - can't the planes fly at a high enough, or low enough, altitude to avoid the ash cloud? (yes I realise flying over the cloud involves flying throught it, just wondering if the chance of damage is minimal flying through it on the way to a higher altitude rather than flying through it at their usual altitude for the duration of the flight).

[PeteM]

63000 flights were cancelled worldwide in the first 4 days-so even 0.1% risk is a lot

[Hightower]

Really stupid question of the day - can't the planes fly at a high enough, or low enough, altitude to avoid the ash cloud? (yes I realise flying over the cloud involves flying throught it, just wondering if the chance of damage is minimal flying through it on the way to a higher altitude rather than flying through it at their usual altitude for the duration of the flight).

 

I'm not an aviation expert but I would have thought that flying at higher altitudes would put further pressure on the cabin - pressure that the planes weren't designed for. And flying at a lower altitude isn't as economical AFAIK. It was on the TV the other day, and some expert said that most flights need to be at the correct altitude otherwise they would run out of petrol and not make it home.

[FN-GM]

Really stupid question of the day - can't the planes fly at a high enough, or low enough, altitude to avoid the ash cloud? (yes I realise flying over the cloud involves flying throught it, just wondering if the chance of damage is minimal flying through it on the way to a higher altitude rather than flying through it at their usual altitude for the duration of the flight).

 

Well small planes (normally owned by private people) can. But large jet aircraft that fly a distance have to fly at a certain altitude to fly safe. The ash is pretty high, higher than most aircraft can fly safely.

Edited April 21, 2010 by FN-GM

[powdarrmonkey]

Really stupid question of the day - can't the planes fly at a high enough, or low enough, altitude to avoid the ash cloud? (yes I realise flying over the cloud involves flying throught it, just wondering if the chance of damage is minimal flying through it on the way to a higher altitude rather than flying through it at their usual altitude for the duration of the flight).

 

At higher altitudes the air is thinner and planes must go faster to maintain their orbital momentum, otherwise the engines stall, and at lower altitudes - if what I've heard is true, the lower safe bound is about 5,000ft, which causes problems with noise (remember it's a jet engine) and gives the pilot much less room for manoeuvre if a problem does occur.

[Jamo]

Well small planes (normally owned by private people) can. But large jet aircraft that fly a distance have to fly at a certain altitude to fly safe. The ash is pretty high, higher than most aircraft can fly safely.

 

I had heard that the ash was between 30 and 35 thousand feet? Which is inside the climbing path of long haul jets.

[FN-GM]

I had heard that the ash was between 30 and 35 thousand feet? Which is inside the climbing path of long haul jets.

 

I was told it was at 50,000ft higher than most can fly

[Hightower]

I heard between 50-55k feet

[powdarrmonkey]

This just demonstrates a) how wide a range of height there is across the whole plume and b) how much hearsay is a load of rubbish.

[difinity]

There is a film/dramatisation/documentary on channel 5 tonight at 10 - Volcanic Ash: Flight of Terror, about a previous plane crash caused by flying through volcanic ash.

[mattx]

There is a film/dramatisation/documentary on channel 5 tonight at 10 - Volcanic Ash: Flight of Terror, about a previous plane crash caused by flying through volcanic ash.

 

Will it have lots of fast cuts, dramatic music, dodgy camera angles & so called 'experts' giving over the top opinions ? If so, I'm watching it !!

Jack Baur would fly through the cloud, but I think the cloud would get out of HIS way.....

[featured_spectre]

The ash in the air is not the volcano, its just the burning bodies of all the people Jack Bauer has killed

[Hightower]

I've found a solution to this whole problem - strap Chuck Norris to the front of the plane!

[mattx]

I've found a solution to this whole problem - strap Chuck Norris to the front of the plane!

 

Can't, he's 'Missing In Action'

[Tyiell]

I've found a solution to this whole problem - strap Chuck Norris to the front of the plane!

 

Wouldn't work - he's so hard the plane wouldn't take off...

[powdarrmonkey]

Wouldn't work - he's so hard the plane wouldn't take off...

 

I really hope you mean 'tough'...!

[mattx]

I really hope you mean 'tough'...!

 

Dirty Boy.

[Tyiell]

I really hope you mean 'tough'...!

 

...and the tone was lowered!! Tsk

[LosOjos]

I heard that Chuck Norris caused the quake: his hayfever caused him to sneeze while he was fetching a bowl of lava for his cornflakes

 

On a more serious note, I'm supposed to be flying to Amsterdam on Friday, and to be honest if the flights are on I'm going to take the risk, you only live once!

Edited April 21, 2010 by LosOjos

[mattx]

I heard that Chuck Norris caused the quake: his hayfever caused him to sneeze while he was fetching a bowl of lava for his cornflakes

 

On a more serious note, I'm supposed to be flying to Amsterdam on Friday, and to be honest if the flights are on I'm going to take the risk, you only live once!

 

Not if you are James Bond.....