SarahJo Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 News today - some airlines are starting to fly in some areas - but not all - OH does not have any flights leaving Manchester till 7am tomorrow, but that still may change to a later time/day. They will need everyone hands on once the skies open again - as all the airlines will send up ALL aircraft to get people away/in asap. This would explain the extra manpower requests, at all levels not just check ins and crew. Make sure you check your own airline if flying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Planes are still grounded until 1am Saturday morning, but some flights are being let out of Northern Ireland and Western Scotland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 DH is stranded in Finland, and Helsinki airport isn't planning to re-open until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest... While I realise it might be nice for some to enjoy the peace and quiet of a plane-free sky, for many of us this is turning into a long waiting game, a lot of re-organisation and I am facing a weekend alone with the kids after spending the whole week alone and the last two days on my own looking after 7 children (big sleepover, not all my kids, I only have four)... so peace and quiet sure is not for me, I had expected to have another adult around to help a bit... DH has no idea when he'll be able to return home... future flights are booking up really fast and there is no confirmed availability for many of them, assuming they start taking off again any time soon... He is thankfully in a hotel rather than in the airport... I feel for people who might be stranded far away from home but with not much spare funds to spend on hotels, meals, phone calls and so on... And I do feel for staff in airports too... not just now, but when things start going again and all the stranded passengers try to stampede home!! I hope everyone just remains safe, patient, and calm... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 I do wonder how much longer this will last, and when the air currents will change. Round here the Air ambulance has had to remain landed and isn't allowed to go anywhere, so I just hope there aren't any major accidents round here. On another note I wonder when my Uncle and Aunt are going to come back as they've gone abroad and should have been coming back this weekend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Round here the Air ambulance has had to remain landed and isn't allowed to go anywhere, so I just hope there aren't any major accidents round here. The RAF can be called in for search and rescue if necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 I would think that theres a few people that dont make it back to school on time for the start after Easter (obviously schools that haven't already gone back) it has a knock on affect everywhere but my main concern is with the poor families that have had to be evacuated and the devastation it has caused there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 A pain for all concerned, but it teaches us to respect nature. My thoughts are with those poor people in Iceland who now have horrific floods to contend with. Our MD is stuck abroad and ought to be back for urgent business; the first flight they've found for him is Saturday evening, but even that is subject to the ash cloud conditions. The main thing is that everyone is safe, no planes have come down due to ash problems. I just can't understand all those complainers... how self-centred of them. We only really get air force jets here, the commercial airlines are to high for us to notice, so not much change there. It has been a bit full on lately - big house fire in Banbury on Tuesday - one man killed; another large fire at a service station nearby closed the M40 yesterday and the volcanic eruption too. At least that's 3 things out of the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 I'm loving it. Now all we need is something to stop car travel for a whole day. Can you imagine the sounds with NO engines? How different and lovely that might be? Just for a day... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 I'm loving it. ... I am not in any way wanting to start an argument, and I think I know what you mean, but I personally wouldn't possibly be able to be 'loving' something that is coming along with floods, so much inconvenience, a lot of loss for many people, and a lot of worries for others... it's a high price to pay for a little bit of quiet... and I believe I'd feel this way even if I wasn't directly affected. After all this is a natural disaster with floods for the people over there, and many consequences for many people all over the world... not much to love really... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 I'm loving it. ... I am not in any way wanting to start an argument, and I think I know what you mean, but I personally wouldn't possibly be able to be 'loving' something that is coming along with floods, so much inconvenience, a lot of loss for many people, and a lot of worries for others... it's a high price to pay for a little bit of quiet... and I believe I'd feel this way even if I wasn't directly affected. After all this is a natural disaster with floods for the people over there, and many consequences for many people all over the world... not much to love really... I understand that it's good to be upbeat and see the bright side of things but I did feel the same as Ziggy. I also think it's very good of Chelsea to go to work. Nice person. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 We're quite close to RAF Brize Norton and there are still military planes over the skies here. There was a blooming noisy great big one earlier! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Am just listening to a plane going over now. Can't see what it is through clouds, but looks like air space is open to some extent here anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 I'm loving it. ... I am not in any way wanting to start an argument, and I think I know what you mean, but I personally wouldn't possibly be able to be 'loving' something that is coming along with floods, so much inconvenience, a lot of loss for many people, and a lot of worries for others... it's a high price to pay for a little bit of quiet... and I believe I'd feel this way even if I wasn't directly affected. After all this is a natural disaster with floods for the people over there, and many consequences for many people all over the world... not much to love really... I understand that it's good to be upbeat and see the bright side of things but I did feel the same as Ziggy. I also think it's very good of Chelsea to go to work. Nice person. I'm OBVIOUSLY not talking about the people in Iceland, but about the enforced lack of planes in UK airspace. I have a small hope that when things like this happen and lead to a lack of a form of transport, it makes us think about the alternatives - which may help us as a society and environmentally, and may help us to have a look at the alternatives rather than the 'I want I want' attitude we have to travelling all over the place willy nilly at such environmental costs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 DH is stranded in Finland, and Helsinki airport isn't planning to re-open until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest...While I realise it might be nice for some to enjoy the peace and quiet of a plane-free sky, for many of us this is turning into a long waiting game, a lot of re-organisation and I am facing a weekend alone with the kids after spending the whole week alone and the last two days on my own looking after 7 children (big sleepover, not all my kids, I only have four)... so peace and quiet sure is not for me, I had expected to have another adult around to help a bit... DH has no idea when he'll be able to return home... future flights are booking up really fast and there is no confirmed availability for many of them, assuming they start taking off again any time soon... He is thankfully in a hotel rather than in the airport... I feel for people who might be stranded far away from home but with not much spare funds to spend on hotels, meals, phone calls and so on... And I do feel for staff in airports too... not just now, but when things start going again and all the stranded passengers try to stampede home!! I hope everyone just remains safe, patient, and calm... I know exactly how you feel! We are still waiting for DH to come home from Egypt. DD aged 6 has been in tears today (again!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 I feel for you AJuff... most of DH's colleagues are getting home, driving long distances and taking trains... but Helsinki is as far south as can be in finland and involving hundreds if not thousands of kilometers of road trip... from what I get peering at maps for the last 24 hours you'd have to go via Russia or all the way up north and down sweden... Egypt sounds even worse... I love Egypt but once you want to get home, being over there is no fun... I don't suppose DH fancies a drive through israel, lebanon, turkey and whole of europe, does he?? And yes kids do ask 'when will daddy get home?' One blessing is the internet... we had a sleepover last night, 7 kids altogether, and this morning they were waving to DH on webcam... it was sweet... if a bit overwhelming for him (like what?? I go and get stuck and suddenly the family grows by 3 daughters??? ) 'Daddy' is now somewhere on the finnish coast waiting for one ferry to Sweden, hoping to go by train or road from there, cause by ferry it'd take ages... i had no idea finland to copenhagen took over 26 hours... surely that's not great for the environment either?? even road and train will take a few days...especially as train and ferries are booking up fast... Patience and hoping all loved ones get home soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Be assured that although it seems like no-one is getting home, some airlines are trying their hardest. OH nearly went to Prestwick to bring the planes in there, but they have since decided to fly out to the West and then into Manchester - these being US flights and Dominican Rep. Chatted to an Air Traffic Controller today - some RAF flights for emergency are still being flown, but bear in mind these are short trips and can fly at low altitude unlike the passenger jets. European flights are now going to be more affected, some long haul will come back in via Scotland. Sympathies to all who cannot attend or have present relatives and friends at weddings/funerals etc What I did think though whilst shopping today - Our Little Island is not really all that self sufficient and does rely heavily on "imports" whether as air/rail/sea freight. Even the oil rigs and getting the men out to work In an ideal world I would love to be able to buy british fruit and veg year round - but today I got bananas from the Dominican, apples from france, tenderstem brocolli from Kenya, tomatoes from Italy etc. Maybe that makes me a Cardinal Sinner in terms of Omlet Ethos - BUT - I know I am not alone, and not ashamed to say - yes, peace and quiet is good BUT also the far reaching consequences. Apart from the Icelandic people I also now spare a thought for all the food producers who rely heavily on air freight and now may face rotting stock as it has nowhere to go - I hope that does not also happen. There are so many more knock on effects that will not be mentioned - all for a bit of quiet and "possible" environmental benefit. Do not forget that the Volcano is spewing out tonnes of Sulphuric and acidic smoke and ash - all going into the atmosphere, at a lower level than any aircraft fuel Only my opinions and thoughts ........ not wanting to start a major stress thread over this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 I agree that it's a rather expensive way to get planes out the air. It's estimated that it's costing the UK economy £10 million everyday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Volcanic dust is reported to have landed on cars in Sheffield already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 There are photos in the Mail Egluntyne - massively magnified ones so it looks like B-Movie killer dust... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Well OH would consider any train, bus, car, bike BUT as he's the Captain he'll have to fly the plane back!!! DD2 has stopped crying now she has a friend for a sleepover! DD1is in a teenage sulk and DS is on the sofa! I do hope he's home before I return to work on Monday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Oh's flight has now been cancelled. He's hanging around a hotel at Gatwick as he's on standby for some other flights. It's quite amazing that Mother Nature has all this power, it just goes to show who really rules the planet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Hope he's back soon for you all - its pants being on your own and not having a definate day of return. OH was in the Dominican for 5 weeks - so had to be a lone parent (hard work when you are used to 2 to share the load) - the boys would have kicked off if he had gone to Prestwick today as he promised to pick them up from school, the children just do not understand (and why should they) Have examined my car - there is a fine "dust" on it - whether or not its volcanic dust or just normal aerosol deposit is debatable. Might get a sample and test it in the lab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 it just goes to show who really rules the planet. We do tend to underestimate her power - nature is a awesome and powerful force. While I feel for all of those struggling to get home, my thoughts and prayers are with all the Icelandic people, who may lose their homes and more as a direct result. Ity must be a scary time for them all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joojoo Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 There seemed to be a light coating of dust on my car today - unless it just needs cleaning joking aside it was all over the windscreen and wasn't there yesterday so I think it probably came down overnight. My friend is now on his way back from Northern Germany via the Dunkerque to Dover Ferry. Ryanair, who he flew to Bremen with, have now cancelled ALL flights in/out of the UK and in/out of Northern Europe until Monday afternoon at the earliest regardless of whether our airspace opens up over the weekend and then given the weather forecast they might not resume then I hope for a safe and speedy return for everyone who is stranded wherever they may be and my thoughts are still with the Icelanders. I think they have a quite a hard existence anyway without something like this being added into the equation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 I saw a light aircraft this evening and we had a purple sunset on the horizon. My thoughts are with the poor people in Iceland and with all of those people who are being inconvenienced and worried by this event. As others have said Mother Nature reminding us who is boss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
