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Original poster

So they're sending in the Navy.

71 replies

Sidge · 19/04/2010 21:57

Maybe I'm just rather cycnical but I don't really see why they're sending the Navy ships in to help at this stage.

It looks like flying will start again tomorrow, and warships aren't exactly cross channel ferries or cruise ships when it comes to accommodating hundreds of civilians with their luggage.

Another way for the Government to attempt to score some Brown-ie points (geddit? ) by looking as if they're doing something to relieve the crisis when they're not actually doing much at all, and what they are doing is too little too late?

Not that I'm too sure what they should be doing; is it a Government's responsibility to get people back home to the UK, or should it be up to the airlines and travel industry?

OP posts:
littlelapin · 19/04/2010 22:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GypsyMoth · 19/04/2010 22:14

another erruption now!

Original poster
Sidge · 19/04/2010 22:21

littlelapin, I know what you're saying, I suppose if this goes on and on the Govt have to be seen to be making some sort of effort.

I can just imagine hundreds of people crammed into the hangar on DHs ship with their bags asking where are the lifts, the restaurant and the duty free shop!

OP posts:
fluffles · 19/04/2010 22:22

there's a HUGE backlog even if they do start flying tomorrow... and no, not the government's responsibility but economy will begin to suffer if people stay stranded longer.. and a lot of people will be racking up a lot of debt trying to get home or on accomodation.

a friend of mine is in tokyo for two weeks longer than planned, he is eating and sleeping as cheaply as possible but still estimates a thousand pounds over budget by the time he gets home.

Original poster
Sidge · 19/04/2010 22:26

Ouch fluffles, that's a big overspend on a holiday budget. Hope he's home soon.

It's a really strange situation isn't it, one of those 'acts of God' that is nobody's fault so not sure who should be responsible for sorting it out.

OP posts:
fluffles · 19/04/2010 22:30

he's been offered a flight on 30th

scaryteacher · 20/04/2010 06:50

HMS Albion is picking up soldiers on leave from Afghanistan in Santander, so that's allowable. She was about anyway as dh went to an RPC on board in Antwerp on Friday.

I'm just waiting for the public to moan about the heads and the NAAFI!

Lapin, when is the list out?

scaryteacher · 20/04/2010 06:52

Great letter in the Telegraph today from Eric Groves, a Naval historian (taught dh at Dartmouth), who said that the ash cloud proves the need for mobile airfields, so the carriers should be built!

MamaG · 20/04/2010 06:54

i wish I was stranded abroad, waiting for teh navy

skihorse · 20/04/2010 06:58

mamag Yes, I'm gutted I'm 2 hours from the coast - I wouldn't mind being rescued by a small team of marines.

MamaG · 20/04/2010 06:59

Maybe i could hitch a lift and be ahelper

gorionine · 20/04/2010 07:04

Well if it is just to cross the Channel, I am sure people will not mind being crowded for 1 1/2 hour rather than being crowded for several more days in an airport.
I think the idea is quite good and even though not the government responsability it is nice that something is done, non?

(As an asside, on yesterday French radio, a Man was saying, in a very angry tone: "They find money to help people in Haiti and China but not to help us getting back home" and I could not help but thinking "Idiot!!")

LOL @ MamaG

whomovedmychocolate · 20/04/2010 07:16

I thought they were evacuating from Spain? That's a lot more than 90 minutes on a ferry. Gosh the stench of vomit by about halfway will be horrid

I have friends stranded in Dubai and Abu Dabi. They are not getting back any time soon. I reckon this will run and run, open for 12 hours, closed 48 etc.

I do think getting people back in other ways is key, especially as some airlines may collapse later this week. Big businesses can't just shut for a week then reopen, confidence and costs are badly effected.

skihorse · 20/04/2010 07:38

I'm afraid I don't have much sympathy with those "stranded" so close to so many ferry ports - it seems they can't think any further than Calais and yet there is more than one port! Then whinge that Dover is nowhere near home.

I do have a LOT more sympathy with those stranded in Dubai - now that can't be fun.

I do think the navy has better things to do though than look after a bunch of numpties who can't read a train timetable.

whomovedmychocolate · 20/04/2010 07:52

It would really screw things up though if BA, for example, goes bust. You think it's tough when the skies are temporarily closed, wait till people are scrambling for the remaining networks who will immediately hike prices up 50% and put everyone who is stranded on standby meaning sad lonely queues at airports of people hoping to get home.

scaryteacher · 20/04/2010 08:13

I keep posting on here Ski that Norfolk lines have space, and they are half an hour further up the coast at Dunkirk. We always go from there to get home and not Calais anyway.

It's good PR for the RN anyway.

I'm enjoying the quiet of no planes. I also think that the airlines are being bloody stupid in pushing for airspace to be reopened too soon, and then blaming the Met Office and NATS for closing it. If a jet flies through the ash and glass forms on the turbine blades, the pilot won't realise until the engines stall and the plane plummets. He may get the engines restarted if he is lucky, but there is only one way to find out if they do, and the consequences if they don't are terminal.

Having seen the footage of the Finnish fighter jet after it went through the ash cloud, I wouldn't be flying for a while. A decision to close airspace isn't taken lightly, so one must presume that it is unsafe to fly. If the airlines don't like the safety procedures in place (that they must have been aware of), then why didn't they challenge them years ago? If they don't like the recommendations of the plane manufacturers, why not moan about them at the time they bought the planes? It does seem to me that is money before safety, and a BA plane flying from London to Cardiff, without the proper scientific testing gear on board wouldn't fill me with confidence. I'd go with the engineers and the scientists who are saying it isn't safe.

skihorse · 20/04/2010 08:26

scaryteacher - yep, I know what you mean. I keep trying to "sell" the amsterdam-newcastle line as that MUST make sense to anyone in the north/scotland but there's just a blinkered view. Also, imo, the view about TGV-style trains. One wonders how us locals ever get from A-B.

I personally wouldn't get on a plane right now... Have very much enjoyed NOT having NATO's satellite plane do a fly-by every 20 minutes - I used to think it was stalking my boyfriend.

scaryteacher · 20/04/2010 08:34

Dh is a glider pilot and an engineer and he reckons that the shut down of airspace was necessary. There was a programme on BBC1 last night about science that explained and demonstrated what the effects of flying through the ash cloud would be on the turbine blades of a jet. Scary.

The Belgocontrol website says that Belgian airspace was closed until 0800 local today, but no planes heard as yet and it's 0932 in Belgium now.

A Paraglider went over the house on Sunday, and it was amazingly loud, but you'd never normally notice it iyswim as the planes going over to Zaventem would mask the noise.

skihorse · 20/04/2010 08:39

Schiphol opened last night (3 flights) but supposedly many more going out this morning but I've seen nothing yet - nor anything coming from Germany.

I'm obviously not an aeronautical engineer - but if it can do that much damage to the engine of an F16 - which must (?) be superior to that of a commercial plane... I'd also worry about maintenance/replacement.

I'm back to the UK next month - by ferry booked last month - just so much more pleasing anyway!

bambipie · 20/04/2010 08:43

Really silly idea - there's space on ferries and it's nto like people are being evacuated from a war zone.

A really obviuos election stunt.

jcscot · 20/04/2010 08:44

"I'm just waiting for the public to moan about the heads and the NAAFI!"

Wasn't it only a couple of years ago that the Navy had to do a rescue of holidaymakers from Beirut and several complained about the facilities on board - the sailors and officers had given up their accomodation for them, but it "...wasn't good enough...".

There's bound to be a few eejits who complain.

skihorse · 20/04/2010 08:46

lol @ jcscot - I can see it now "we went on a cruise last year round the med and HMV Invincible didn't even have a pool and there was no entertainment on for the kiddies. I wouldn't use them again. Somebody should do something".

scaryteacher · 20/04/2010 08:53

They need to do 10,000 test flights before they can actually say it is safe, but hey, profits profits uber alles!

scaryteacher · 20/04/2010 08:55

I think keel hauling would be a fab form of entertainment for those who moan!

scaryteacher · 20/04/2010 08:55

...or they could kiss the gunners daughter.