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Original poster

BA and air traffic control seem to be in some sort of mad stand off

76 replies

OhYouBadBadKitten · 20/04/2010 19:06

According to bbc news BA are insisting on landing 10-12 planes at Heathrow despite NATS/ ATC saying airspace closed.

OP posts:
Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 20/04/2010 21:43

I'm not sure that the met office make judgments. They just issue the ash forecast and they say that there is still ash.

Bet you are right about the cobra meeting.

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Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 20/04/2010 21:47

ash forecast note how it does clear through much of the uk tomorrow.
Perhaps they are doing a diminishing returns thing. They know that the ash is lower, they think it will stay that way and thursday/friday it is due to pretty much clear out anyway due to the weather taking it n/e.

I think they would probably have been able to reopen by tomorrow evening and have taken an early punt.

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wannaBe · 20/04/2010 21:49

BA are not asking for compensation - they are asking for government to support the industry after this, and tbh they have a point.

wannaBe · 20/04/2010 21:54

perhaps they are opening air space now so that plans can be made for flights to come home. The reality is that there won't be any more flights in tonight anyway as most had already been cancelled, but if air space is opened now the flights for tomorrow can be scheduled, iyswim?

wannaBe · 20/04/2010 21:55

and also flights can leave here then to go to wherever they need to go to bring people home.

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 20/04/2010 21:57

I think there are more due in tonight Wannabe - BA have several lined up if internet reports are to be believed.

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Ponders · 20/04/2010 22:00

"British Airways seek compensation for ash chaos"

British Airways has said it has asked the European Union and the UK government for financial compensation for the closure of airspace.

The airlines believe they are due compensation because the decision of whether to fly or not has been unfairly taken out of their hands.

"Unfairly"????

theyoungvisiter · 20/04/2010 22:00

two flights went over our house this morning at about 10am.

It was so weird - I was completely startled when normally the planes going over is just part of the day.

I felt like a country yokel circa 1930 going "Arr, there be one o they godless flying abominations, arr."

said · 20/04/2010 22:02

From that link" Mr Walsh said: "The analysis we have done so far, alongside that from other airlines' trial flights, provides fresh evidence that the current blanket restrictions on airspace are unnecessary.

"We believe airlines are best positioned to assess all available information and determine what, if any, risk exists to aircraft, crew and passengers."

Uh-oh

PussinJimmyChoos · 20/04/2010 22:04

Just on the news now that all airspace is open....

wtf??? Is public safety being compromised as govt don't want to bail out airlines??

scurryfunge · 20/04/2010 22:07

Perhaps BA staff should strike now for maximum effect

Hulababy · 20/04/2010 22:45

scurryfunge - ssshhh, don't give them ideas.

sarah293 · 21/04/2010 08:39

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Callisto · 21/04/2010 09:14

The airlines already get a huge tax break in the form of subsidised fuel. I don't think they should get any compensation.

I also heard that a Norwegian plane had flown a test flight through the ash cloud yesterday and come back with very damaged engines.

sarah293 · 21/04/2010 09:21

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coffeeinbed · 21/04/2010 09:40

I think they used those planes as pawns.

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 21/04/2010 11:15

I agree coffee - airspace was probably going to reopen at 1am (unsure as to the wisdom of that - tis for the experts to decide) and BA forced the issue. I have no respect for them.

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Blu · 21/04/2010 11:18

DP was 'looking after' a friend of a friend stranded in London (met him for some company), and he is being given £200 a day by BA for hotel and living expenses. It must be ruinous for BA, but not as ruinous as risking a catastrophe.

If European Air space is not open, the use of UK being open is limited. I have seen no planes this morning....

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 21/04/2010 11:22

where the ash is

mostly clearing through today. no need for idiotic stand off last night I guess it will take time to sort out.....

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coffeeinbed · 21/04/2010 11:31

I looked at the pilots forums this morning.
Interesting reading.

MrsC2010 · 21/04/2010 12:51

They bailed out the banks...who were far more at fault.

MrsC2010 · 21/04/2010 12:56

Oh, and as far as I understand it the flights were originally destined for Heathrow (as in, that is what the people had booked) but the flights took off in the hope of getting to Heathrow (I suspect they had far more advanced warnings of the openings than we did) but in the knowledge they might well land elsewhere. Up until 20 mins odd before landing they were heading for somewhere in mainland Europe. They must have known, or suspected...DH is stuck in Antigua and is due on a flight this evening. The moment the announcement was made Virgin announced all flights would be as normal today, this takes some arranging so they will have known earlier.

I think the authorities had to take the better safe than sorry approach, there is no way there will bending of tolerances etc just to suit the airlines, too many lives at stakes.

scaryteacher · 21/04/2010 13:46

Belgian airspace has reopened, but they're keeping a watching brief.

I think the airlines are playing games with lives quite frankly; and I don't think that they are best positioned, as they cannot be impartial because they have always have one eye on their financial bottom line. The engineers who have been interviewed thought airspace closure was the right thing, and I am more inclined to believe an engineer without an axe to grind than an airline taking a calculated risk.

Ryoko · 21/04/2010 14:02

I live under the Heathrow flight path and am not happy with the pressure the greedy airlines (Especially BA) are putting on, this has nothing to do with safety it's all about money.

Willy just wants his cash and doesn't care about anything else, I seriously doubt engineers will be ripping the engines apart after every flight to check for damage, I say it's tough luck on the lot of them, the ash is still there nothing has changed, if it rains the fluoride in the ash will make acid rain and they should have been insured.

Not like it's the first time the air space has been closed, get insurance or get stuffed and no one should bale em out if they go to the wall, happens.

Would be nice to know how all this has affected the air quality, it's been really nice not hearing planes fly over head every two mins, now people have got a taste for what a bit of peace is like it would be nice if all flights where banned for one day a week to give us all a break.

wannaBe · 21/04/2010 14:15

what about cars then? can't they be banned as well to give us all a break from the noise and polution they cause?

And it is worth bearing in mind that Willy Walsch went up on the BA test flight. Do you really think he would have done that if he thought the plane would crash?

The ash is moving, and the volcano is starting to produce lava rather than ash. I'm not sure I would have wanted to be on a plane either, but I also don't think that they would risk that many lives - that would do far more damage to their business than the ash cloud.