Topic: Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajoekull has prevented aircraft from being able to take off from airports all across Europe due to the amount of ash that has been spewed into the air that may cause engine failure.
Article 1: Iceland volcano ash continues to ground aircraft
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8623806.stm
Flights across most of the UK have been grounded as the volcanic ash from Iceland drifts across Europe. European controllers said some 17,000 flights have been cancelled on a single day. According to BBC’s weather forecaster Matt Taylor prevailing winds will shift slightly to drive the central part of the ash further to the north toward Scandinavia. Experts say the tiny particles of rock , glass and sand contained in the ash cloud could jam aircraft engines, as has happened in previous incidents of planes flying to volcanic ash.
Article 2: Iceland volcano grounds flights
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/apr/16/iceland-volcano-grounds-flights-over-europe/
In this article it says that the enormous ash cloud from the Icelandic volcano caused the biggest flight disruption since Sept. 11. On Thursday the ash drifted over northern Europe and stranded travellers on six continents. Officials said it could take days for the skies to become safe again in one of aviation’s most affected areas. Non-emergency flights in Britain were cancelled and most will stay grounded for a while. Authorities in Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Belgium also closed their air space. In France 24 airports including the main hub of Charles de Gaulle in Paris, and several flights out of the U.S also had to double back.
Article 3: Icelandic Volcano Grounds Flights Across
The Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajoekull spewed a hefty cloud of ash into the air Thursday, turning airports across Europe into no – fly zones leaving stranded travellers little hope of taking off. Eurocontrol, which covers 38 nations across Europe said that the ash ejected by the volcano would be migrating south east direction. Based on the guidelins of the International Civil Aviation Organisation normal air traffic control services could not be provided to flights in airspaces affected by volcanic ash, which requires the temporary suspension of air traffic.
Reflection
My reflection on this is that if this continues to happen in the future it might happen in a more powerful manner. Ash may be submitted into the air for even months if the volcano erupts for a long time. It is very dangerous for aircrafts to travel through ash due to engine problems that could stop an aircraft midflight that could plummet towards the ground affecting all on board. I believe it is a matter of human safety that we quickly act towards aiding in a way to prevent or minimize the time ash is in the air.
